Health
The Great Vaccine Debate
Should you have the right to *not* vaccinate your child?
A measles outbreak prompts lawmakers to consider reversing course on policies they may have helped put in place.
Health
What’s Going On:
- Measles cases in 10 states, some tied to low vaccination rates.
- 46 states: allow religious exemptions to vaccinations.
- 17 states: allow for “philosophical” exemptions for personal beliefs.
- In the wake of recent outbreaks, Washington & Oregon are looking to potentially tighten laws that allow for these personal exemptions.
Health
“I’m very worried that these measles epidemics are becoming a new normal…The enablers are state legislators in those states, that have allowed themselves to be played.”
Health
“I see that as medical fascism. I’m the one who is going to make medical decisions for my kids.”
Health
Who Decides Who Vaccinates & Where?
- Federal gov’t makes recommendations, not laws or policies, re: vaccines.
- Your state gov’t sets requirements for vaccinations at a local level, normally for attending school.
- Why? Simply – the federal gov’t is responsible for our national security and your state, for your personal safety.
Health
Current measles vaccination rate in America is approx. 90%; Some states have lower. In general, a community needs to have 90-95% vaccination rates for "herd immunity" that prevents the spread of a contagious disease.
Read
Sources
- STATES WITH RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL EXEMPTIONS FROM SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/school-immunization-exemption-state-laws.aspx - Governor urges vaccines as Northwest measles cases climb:
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Oregon-governor-urges-vaccines-as-measles-cases-13598856.php - ‘A Match Into a Can of Gasoline’: Measles Outbreak Now an Emergency in Washington State:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/us/measles-outbreak.html - ‘It will take off like a wildfire’: The unique dangers of the Washington state measles outbreak:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/it-will-take-off-like-a-wildfire-the-unique-dangers-of-the-washington-state-measles-outbreak/2019/02/06/cfd5088a-28fa-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html - Informed Choice Washington:
https://www.informedchoicewa.org/oppose-hb-1638/ - Immunization Rates:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/immunize.htm