Depressed enough yet? NYT - "How the Anti-Vaxxers Are Winning"

[NRaleighLiberal]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/opinion/how-the-anti-vaxxers-are-winning.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0

by Peter Hotez

HOUSTON — It’s looking as if 2017 could become the year when the anti-vaccination movement gains ascendancy in the United States and we begin to see a reversal of several decades in steady public health gains. The first blow will be measles outbreaks in America.

Measles is one of the most contagious and most lethal of all human diseases. A single person infected with the virus can infect more than a dozen unvaccinated people, typically infants too young to have received their first measles shot. Such high levels of transmissibility mean that when the percentage of children in a community who have received the measles vaccine falls below 90 percent to 95 percent, we can start to see major outbreaks, as in the 1950s when four million Americans a year were infected and 450 died. Worldwide, measles still kills around 100,000 children each year.

The myth that vaccines like the one that prevents measles are connected to autism has persisted despite rock-solid proof to the contrary. Donald Trump has given credence to such views in tweets and during a Republican debate, but as president he has said nothing to support vaccination opponents, so there is reason to hope that his views are changing.

However, a leading proponent of the link between vaccines and autism said he recently met with the president to discuss the creation of a presidential commission to investigate vaccine safety. Such a commission would be a throwback to the 2000s, when Representative Dan Burton of Indiana held fruitless hearings and conducted investigations on this topic. And a documentary alleging a conspiracy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe,” has recently been shown around the country.

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some maps follow - yikes.

[AlexSFCA]

1. self-destruction

what a way to reduce population...

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Happily all the kids in my family have parents who believe in immunization.

Their grandfather seems not to, though it's not his decision. None have any signs of autism.

[jeffreyi]

3. I had a severe case

Of measles in the 2nd or third grade. This was before vaccinations were available, obviously. I was bedridden for 3 weeks, spots, high fevers, everything. My eyesight prior to that was 20-20, just like the rest of the family. I became coke-bottle nearsighted immediately after the measles episode, and that is not a good thing. If vaccinations had been available, I would have been spared a lot of the difficulties associated with poor eyesight.

[Blue_true]

5. Fortunately I came along after kids were being

Actively vaccinated in school. Although the county that I live in is red, it is moderate republican, officials have always supported libraries, public education and public health programs.

[Ace Rothstein]

4. The anti-vax movement goes across party lines.

It is an incredibly dangerous movement.

[Blue_true]

6. Washington State recently had an outbreaks of

The Mumps, something that I was vaccinated for as a child. Antivaxxer parents are taking risk with their children's health or even lives.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. My first and only grandchild is 2 months old. I am so afraid for her.

Anti-vax is such EVIL lunacy.

[Solly Mack]

8. Children in school can be walking petri dishes in the best of times.

Anything they pick up in school, they bring home. Anything they can bring home, they can give away in passing between school and home.

Not vaccinating a healthy child that can be vaccinated is like pushing your armed and dangerous toddler onto the rest of us. And toddlers already have a death count when it comes to guns (because of idiotic parents). They don't need to be infectious little cootie carriers as well. (because of idiotic parents)

Vaccinate your children (and keep your guns locked away). The life you save may well be your own.

[Calculating]

9. Not vaccinating your children should be considered child abuse

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. No excuse for anti-vax lunacy ruining our public health. Not vaccinating your kids is willfully and unnecessarily putting them at incredible risk.