Measles, a disease that was declared eliminated in the US in the year 2000, is now at the
center of an outbreak at Disneyland in California.
More than 50 people have been infected with Measles there, and the outbreak has sparked
fresh calls for parents to vaccinate their children.
In 2013, Reuters reported that almost half of babies and toddlers were not receiving
their recommended vaccinations on time . The question is, why are some parents forgoing
vaccinations, and how will this affect the population in general?
The Centers for Disease Control, the organization tasked with limiting the spread of disease
in the US, recommends that all Americans receive vaccination shots for various diseases.
No federal law exists forcing parents to vaccinate their children, but all 50 states require
vaccinations for children entering public schools.
However, a large number of states allow parents to opt out of these vaccinations.
In some states, it’s as easy as signing a piece of paper.
Why are these parents opting out?
Well, children with weakened immune systems or other medical conditions, should not receive
some vaccinations without a doctor’s recommendation.
Those that are a part of a culture or religion that tends to be against vaccinations - like
some Amish or Hasidic communities also chose to opt out.
Other children, primarily from low income households, simply slip through the cracks
because their parents don’t have the time, money, or access needed to vaccinate them.
Then, there are some parents who fear their children will develop autism or have other
severe reactions to the shot.
This belief stems from a 1998 study linking autism to vaccinations- a study that has since
been discredited, and retracted in 2010.
The CDC, citing several studies, completely rejects the claim of vaccines causing autism.
Still, the myth persists.
Also, there are indications that a section of parents in the well-educated middle class
choose to delay the shots- because they are concerned that the government’s one-vaccine-schedule-fits-all
approach isn’t right for their child.
Still, this population is relatively new and has not been fully studied as of yet.
So, why does this matter?
It matters because there is evidence that people who are not vaccinated against certain
diseases, like measles or whooping cough, are not only endangering themselves, but also
endangering the vaccinated majority.
When fewer people are vaccinated for diseases, the chances that even vaccinated people will
be infected goes up.
This is because no vaccine is 100 percent effective.
The immunity of large groups, which is known as “herd immunity” only fully works in
an environment with high vaccination rates.
When the majority of a group of people is immune to a disease, that disease is less
likely to spread far even among non-vaccinated people.
Herd immunity serves as a vital buffer to babies, who are too young, and other people,
who are too sick, to be vaccinated.
If herd immunity dips below 90% for diseases like measles and whooping cough, larger outbreaks
occur.
And that’s exactly what’s been happening now, as more parents refuse to vaccinate their
children.
Ultimately, the choice to vaccinate yourself or your child is up to you, but we urge you
to get all of the facts before you make your decision.
You can find the links to the studies we used below, including the CDC link urging you to
vaccinate your child.