Posted on 02/09/2015 4:21:07 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Retired neurosurgeon and presidential hopeful Ben Carson attempted Sunday to diffuse the vaccination debate that has gripped the political scene, saying there’s no reason to turn vaccines for measles and other diseases into a partisan issue.
Mr. Carson, a star in conservative circles, said scientists have debunked skeptics who warn of debilitating side effects from vaccines, and parents who forgo vaccinations are eroding the herd immunity that has lulled them into complacency.
“We’ve had such an effective vaccination program that you’re not seeing the diseases,” Mr. Carson told “Fox News Sunday.”
A measles outbreak traced to Disneyland in California has resulted in at least 150 cases, and the political wildfire around whether parents must vaccinate their children is spreading just as quickly. Some Republican presidential hopefuls struggled with the issue last week, prompting other contenders to quickly tout the merits of vaccines.
Meanwhile, government disease specialists said the benefits of vaccination far outweigh side effects that typically amount to a sore arm or slight fever.
Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said measles is a disease “that’s entirely preventable.”
He accused the anti-vaccine crowd of putting the youngest Americans at risk, as toddlers cannot get the shot until they reach their first birthday.
“What we’re talking about are outbreaks among vulnerable people,” said Dr. Fauci, the nation’s top disease fighter.
The situation has renewed debate about whether governments and school districts have done enough to stamp out diseases. On Friday the University of California system announced that, starting in 2017, incoming students must be vaccinated against measles and other diseases.
The intersection between medical science and government mandates tripped up prominent politicians last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
‘___________take a vaccine against your will, you don’t even have control over your on body. the state owns your body then. and your kids.’
I hope/expect not, but I half-way sense something’s coming . . .
Perhaps actually not allowing my grandkids to attend a brick and mortar school. (Some are homeschooled - ).
“We would not wish those illnesses on anybody. And they are avoidable.”
The sad thing is that we have today a bunch of child-minded adults that benefitted from vaccines but now want to claim vaccines should be withheld from everyone else’s children.
“psuedoscientific quackery “
If that is what you think vaccines are then you’re an ignorant idiot. Not knowing medical history and the use of vaccines is simply a lesson in “Those that refuse to learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
I should have been more clear. I was referring to the arguments against vaccines. If I was talking about vaccines that way then I would indeed be an ignorant idiot.
Yes, because things weren’t really that bad when we had to fear polio and smallpox.....
No Doctors for POTUS! Ever!
Appears so, especially when thousands of people die of the flu every year...
Selective paranoia, my friend, selective paranoia...
Well, I am surprised that they don’t ever mention the death toll from the flu every year, that’s enough to make a person’s jaw drop in terms of the U.S. numbers alone. In the U.S. chickenpox is very seldom fatal. I would be willing to bet that the flu will be the biggest killer disease in the United States this year.
But when such a big percentage of the infected died or were turned into permanent vegetables, yes, that was good reason to fear it, not to mention good reason not to bother with swimming in a public pool.
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