Measles: To Disneyland and Beyond

[SophieRose]

93% Guatemalan kids have measles vac vs 92% American
2014 article
http://www.texasobserver.org/disease-threat-immigrant-children-wildly-overstated/

Before demonizing undocumented children, we should look at the facts: The vast majority of Central Americans are vaccinated against all these diseases. Governments concerned about health, and good parents investing in their kids, have made Central American kids better-vaccinated than Texan kids. We fear them not because they are actually sick, but because of powerful anti-immigration narratives that link foreigners to disease.

Consider, for example, Guatemala. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Guatemalan kids are more likely than Texans to be immunized for most infectious diseases. Guatemala has universal health care. Vaccines are 100 percent funded by the government.

By comparison, one in six kids in Texas is uninsured, and even insured families often must pay for vaccination. That means that many Texas kids fall behind on vaccinations, or miss them altogether when their family can’t afford a doctor’s visit. Other families refuse vaccination.

 

[SStarr33]

Unvax rates by state:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ations-best-child-vaccination-rate-heres-why/

 

[blue22]

93% Guatemalan kids have measles vac vs 92% American
2014 article
http://www.texasobserver.org/disease-threat-immigrant-children-wildly-overstated/

Before demonizing undocumented children, we should look at the facts: The vast majority of Central Americans are vaccinated against all these diseases. Governments concerned about health, and good parents investing in their kids, have made Central American kids better-vaccinated than Texan kids. We fear them not because they are actually sick, but because of powerful anti-immigration narratives that link foreigners to disease.

Consider, for example, Guatemala. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Guatemalan kids are more likely than Texans to be immunized for most infectious diseases. Guatemala has universal health care. Vaccines are 100 percent funded by the government.

By comparison, one in six kids in Texas is uninsured, and even insured families often must pay for vaccination. That means that many Texas kids fall behind on vaccinations, or miss them altogether when their family can’t afford a doctor’s visit. Other families refuse vaccination.

I live in a very immigrant heavy area. (They estimate my county is around 20-25% undocumented immigrants. That's hundreds of thousands of people.) The children are almost always vaccinated, since they were born here. It's the adults that concern me. They (I'm only speaking of my experience here) don't go to the doctor for anything. While their children have insurance and such for being a citizen here, the parents do not. Adults need vaccinations too, for herd immunity to work...and I am willing to be almost none of them are vaccinated. (That's not just singling out immigrants. Plenty of adult citizens with and without insurance are not propertly vaccinated as well.)

 

[LinasK]

Feb 6, 2015 11:56 AM EST
By Margaret Carlson

We aren't the stupid party. That was the word early this week from GOP central command. From now on, Republicans are four-square behind vaccinating children against deadly diseases. Welcome to the 19th century. Louis Pasteur is smiling down.

Sadly, Governor Chris Christie and Senator Rand Paul, leading Republican lights and likely presidential candidates, didn't get the memo soon enough. They suffered a bout of hoof-in-mouth disease that led them to try to play nice with the activist anti-vaccine crowd (also known as: those most likely to vote in early 2016 caucuses and primaries). more at link: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-02-06/christie-and-paul-come-down-with-measles?cmpid=yhoo

 

[MyBelle]

Feb 6, 2015 11:56 AM EST
By Margaret Carlson

We aren't the stupid party. That was the word early this week from GOP central command. From now on, Republicans are four-square behind vaccinating children against deadly diseases. Welcome to the 19th century. Louis Pasteur is smiling down.

Sadly, Governor Chris Christie and Senator Rand Paul, leading Republican lights and likely presidential candidates, didn't get the memo soon enough. They suffered a bout of hoof-in-mouth disease that led them to try to play nice with the activist anti-vaccine crowd (also known as: those most likely to vote in early 2016 caucuses and primaries). more at link: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-02-06/christie-and-paul-come-down-with-measles?cmpid=yhoo

Thanks for the article. Too bad we can't take the medical decisions out of the hands of politicians and place it squarely in the hands of pediatricians. It should be unethical for any physician to recommend against vaccines for philosophical reasons or because they personally consider them to be unsafe.

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

I don't think politicizing this issue is a good idea.

 

[SStarr33]

Think the U.S Has a Measles Problem? Just Look at Europe

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/me...-has-measles-problem-just-look-europe-n301726

 

[FindHG]

Vaccines: An Unhealthy Skepticism (video)
BY RetroReport | Feb. 1, 2015 | 12:12
well done report, sorry if previously posted

 

[K_Z]

I don't think politicizing this issue is a good idea.

I agree, but I also think it's way too late for that. Already the whole issue of vaccinating or not is being portrayed as a "choice" made by political conservatives, versus progressive liberals. It's being portrayed as an "attack" on religious choice and philosophical idealism, rather than a fact and science-based medical and public health imperative.

It is just mind-numbing, and really stunning for me to consider how we as a nation have journeyed to such a dark place that preventing communicable diseases and saving lives is "bad" in the minds of some of the deeply paranoid and misguided. I can barely even begin to wrap my mind around that. It feels a lot like societal devolving. As if we are the modern Holy Roman Empire in decline. SMH.

 

[annahanna]

Seriously???

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-usa-measles-idUSKBN0LE05520150210

(Reuters) - "California health officials on Monday warned parents against intentionally exposing their children to measles, which could worsen an outbreak in the state."
......
""CDPH strongly recommends against the intentional exposure of children to measles as it unnecessarily places the exposed children at potentially grave risk and could contribute to further spread," said department spokeswoman Anita Gore."

I am appalled that anyone would intentionally expose their child to a disease that is a public health danger. Years ago, my immune compromised son contracted "harmless" chicken pox because of misguided parents who had a "pox party" and then sent their contagious children to school. The school nurse sent them all home when the first 2 broke out in the rash and 4 more kids announced that they had been to the pox party. This "harmless" illness landed my kid in the hospital for 2 days. Six years later he was back in the hospital - this time in an isolation unit in ICU because of severe multi dermatome shingles. His lasting gift from the party he did not attend? .... Residual nerve pain that he may have for the rest of his life. The arrogance, selfishness, and idiocy of these parents never ceases to amaze me.

(Rant over :gaah: )

 

[annahanna]

From the same article linked above:
"In 2011, federal authorities issued stern warnings following media reports that vaccine-wary parents were trading chicken pox-laced lollipops by mail, in misguided efforts to build children's immunity through exposure to the virus."

This was a new one on me. What did they do, have an infected kid lick the lollipops and get them nice and germ-ie and mail them to their friends?? I don't need friends like that - just saying.

 

[K_Z]

Abhorrent, appalling behavior, annahanna. How is this even legal? This is criminal behavior, IMO. People who have intentionally spread HIV as "revenge" have been charged with crimes.

What's next? Ebola Events? Plague Proms? Rotavirus RoundUps? "MRSA Magic Mondays"? Abusive social Darwinism at its finest.

This goes far, far beyond quackery. I seriously think these people should be charged with crimes. I wish investigators and a prosecutor would go after them. As you rightly point out, an immune compromised patient could die from their deliberate exposure and intentional spread of contagion. Charge them with attempted homicide, or something. Maybe that will get their attention and slam them back into reality. :gaah:

 

[annahanna]

What's next? Ebola Events? Plague Proms? Rotavirus RoundUps? "MRSA Magic Mondays"? Abusive social Darwinism at its finest.

Thanks for the laugh. I love MRSA Magic Monday - although I think i will send my regrets on that one!

I agree that these parents are guilty of a crime. Isn't this medical child abuse - not just of their own kid but of other children in the community?? The sad thing is that when my son was exposed, we lived in a very small town. Most parents in town knew that he had significant health issues. They chose to believe that their children having chicken pox when it was convenient for them would have no impact on my kid. They were stunned when he landed in the hospital and almost offended that their children were not allowed to come visit him. :doh:

I hate to say this (I pray it won't happen) but the first measles death is going to be a significant wake up call to a lot of oblivious, self centered parents. Prosecution or a lawsuit seems inevitable.

 

[Charlie09]

Thanks for the laugh. I love MRSA Magic Monday - although I think i will send my regrets on that one!

I agree that these parents are guilty of a crime. Isn't this medical child abuse - not just of their own kid but of other children in the community?? The sad thing is that when my son was exposed, we lived in a very small town. Most parents in town knew that he had significant health issues. They chose to believe that their children having chicken pox when it was convenient for them would have no impact on my kid. They were stunned when he landed in the hospital and almost offended that their children were not allowed to come visit him. :doh:

I hate to say this (I pray it won't happen) but the first measles death is going to be a significant wake up call to a lot of oblivious, self centered parents. Prosecution or a lawsuit seems inevitable.

I notice a certain hopefulness that a measles death is going to happen.
That'll show 'em!

 

[Charlie09]

Abhorrent, appalling behavior, annahanna. How is this even legal? This is criminal behavior, IMO. People who have intentionally spread HIV as "revenge" have been charged with crimes.

What's next? Ebola Events? Plague Proms? Rotavirus RoundUps? "MRSA Magic Mondays"? Abusive social Darwinism at its finest.

This goes far, far beyond quackery. I seriously think these people should be charged with crimes. I wish investigators and a prosecutor would go after them. As you rightly point out, an immune compromised patient could die from their deliberate exposure and intentional spread of contagion. Charge them with attempted homicide, or something. Maybe that will get their attention and slam them back into reality. :gaah:

It's not a crime though -
Any more than it would be for children living in the same home to all experience a childhood disease together.

 

[Charlie09]

I agree, but I also think it's way too late for that. Already the whole issue of vaccinating or not is being portrayed as a "choice" made by political conservatives, versus progressive liberals. It's being portrayed as an "attack" on religious choice and philosophical idealism, rather than a fact and science-based medical and public health imperative.

It is just mind-numbing, and really stunning for me to consider how we as a nation have journeyed to such a dark place that preventing communicable diseases and saving lives is "bad" in the minds of some of the deeply paranoid and misguided. I can barely even begin to wrap my mind around that. It feels a lot like societal devolving. As if we are the modern Holy Roman Empire in decline. SMH.

at what point is it ok for a parent to say enough to vaccinations? If 40 is not enough? 70?
I can say no to guardasil for my kid but not the measles vaccination because of what difference?

 

[Hiandmighty]

at what point is it ok for a parent to say enough to vaccinations? If 40 is not enough? 70?
I can say no to guardasil for my kid but not the measles vaccination because of what difference?

Are you seriously asking the medical difference between HPV and measles? Or was it a mostly rhetorical question?

 

[LinasK]

Abhorrent, appalling behavior, annahanna. How is this even legal? This is criminal behavior, IMO. People who have intentionally spread HIV as "revenge" have been charged with crimes.

What's next? Ebola Events? Plague Proms? Rotavirus RoundUps? "MRSA Magic Mondays"? Abusive social Darwinism at its finest.

This goes far, far beyond quackery. I seriously think these people should be charged with crimes. I wish investigators and a prosecutor would go after them. As you rightly point out, an immune compromised patient could die from their deliberate exposure and intentional spread of contagion. Charge them with attempted homicide, or something. Maybe that will get their attention and slam them back into reality. :gaah:

A few years ago moms were sending out lollipops by mail that their kids who had diseases had licked. The theory was, expose your kid and get it over with. They were stopped and charged.

 

[LinasK]

From the same article linked above:
"In 2011, federal authorities issued stern warnings following media reports that vaccine-wary parents were trading chicken pox-laced lollipops by mail, in misguided efforts to build children's immunity through exposure to the virus."

This was a new one on me. What did they do, have an infected kid lick the lollipops and get them nice and germ-ie and mail them to their friends?? I don't need friends like that - just saying.

That's what I was referring to. They figure getting the diseases are inevitable, so let's get it over with and make some money off it in the process.:banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[Charlie09]

Are you seriously asking the medical difference between HPV and measles? Or was it a mostly rhetorical question?

nope, and nope.
At what point is the forced vaccination idea enough?