Choosy Mothers

Even if vaccines did cause autism (and they don’t!), they’d still be worth it: the odds of severe disability or death are much higher than the fake risk.

This is My Response to Recent Headlines

Like what?

• Disregarding Health Warnings, Arizona Lawmakers Move Forward On Vaccine Exemptions For Kids (February 22)
  • “Do we want the next outbreak news story to be in Arizona?” Dr. Steven R. Brown, a family physician in central Phoenix, asked the committee. “As a family physician who cares for the health of our citizens and especially our children, I am disheartened and frightened that this is up for debate. … Nobody is here to tell the stories of people who are alive and not disabled by vaccine-preventable illness.”
• Texas Lawmaker Says He’s Not Worried About Measles Outbreak Because of ‘Antibiotics’ (February 27)
  • There is no treatment for measles, a highly contagious virus that can be fatal. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections and can’t kill viruses. Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking six measles outbreaks across the nation, including one in Texas. (Emphasis added)
• Measles Returned To Costa Rica After Five Years By French Family Who Had Not Had Vaccinations (February 24)
  • The reintroduction of measles to Costa Rica comes a month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that “vaccine hesitancy” is in the top 10 of the worst health threats facing humanity in 2019. (Emphasis added)

And It’s Entirely Preventable. This isn’t a matter of “parental choice” but rather one of public health. And yes: I’m all for forced vaccinations unless the child has a specific illness that is recognized to be a contraindication. The absolutely ridiculous thought that vaccines can cause autism came from a lying and completely discredited British doctor. There are no ingredients in any vaccine that cause autism.

Legislators who ignore these unambiguous truths and clear warnings should be removed from office no matter their party affiliation. It’s an outrageous assault on public health.

Am I Heartless? Not at all: long-time readers know I’m an experienced medic who actually carries epinephrine — and have had to inject it into patients many times, including for severe reaction to accidental peanut ingestion.

Intelligent Reader Reaction

Copied to here from the Facebook post of this meme:

I have a granddaughter with a severe peanut allergy and appreciate the school not allowing peanut products. (She is up to date on all of her vaccinations.) I also appreciate all those responsible parents who not only protect their children by immunizing them, but protect the greater community of children — a subsection of whom are immuno-compromised and cannot receive immunizations — from the devastating results of contracting PREVENTABLE, potentially fatal illnesses. If the anti-vaxxers want to put their own children at risk, there is not much we can do about it. They do NOT, however, have the right to put other children at risk. The unvaccinated kids need to be banned from public schools and any publicly-funded activities for children. Private schools/organizations can write their own rules. Tired of the anti-vaxxer attitude that they can push their beliefs on others and put lots of kids — and communities — at unnecessary risk.

That’s one smart grandma.

If You’re the Sort of Reader who appreciates the use of humor to illustrate the absurdity of the human condition and provoke thought, consider subscribing to Randy’s flagship email newsletter, This is True — basic subscriptions have been free since 1994! Details Here.