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People who don't vaccinate their children do so as a luxury provided by the vast majority who do vaccinate.

hcayless 17y ago
Herd immunity helps, but the problem is that no vaccine is 100% effective and there are those who can't get vaccinated for health reasons (such as allergies, compromised immune systems, etc.). So, if you like, we're all relying on herd immunity to some extent, and people (hard not to type "morons") who don't vaccinate themselves or their kids are reducing the level of herd immunity. They're putting other people at risk--not just their own kids.
- scott_s 17y ago
  And, sadly, from the article: "“I used to say that the tide would turn when children started to die. Well, children have started to die,” Offit says, frowning as he ticks off recent fatal cases of meningitis in unvaccinated children in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. “So now I’ve changed it to ‘when enough children start to die.’ Because obviously, we’re not there yet.”"
tomjen2 17y ago
Well, no they have to catch it from somebody that _do_ have it in the first place, so the real culprit is those who have the decease currently. But yeah, statistically you are most likely to get to sick if you aren't vaccinated but at a certain point vaccination doesn't make sense at all.
- 83457 17y ago
  So the non-vaccinated aren't the real culprits because they have to get it from someone who has the disease because they are not vaccinated?
Alex3917 17y ago
How are you supposed to make an educated decision about the safety of these vaccines, when there's a good chance that the CDC is lying to you about the data? Just read RFK's article on the vaccine autism link: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7395411/deadly_immunity/ http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7395411/deadly_im... I've seen a ton of evidence since this article saying that the vaccine-autism link is false. However I've seen zero evidence that the alleged CDC cover up of the safety information didn't actually occur. How are you supposed to make an educated decision about the safety of these products when the head of the CDC vaccine division goes on record saying they are hiding information about their safety.
- gthank 17y ago
  You mean the article that the submitted article explicitly calls out as unbelievably shoddy, and for which Rolling Stone has issued multiple corrections?
  - Alex3917 17y ago
    I know the science in the article is wrong. But if you actually read the article, it isn't really about the science, it's about the CDC hiding data from the public. And this has not been challenged, in fact the CDC admits it. So I ask again, how are you supposed to make an educated decision based on facts, when the CDC admits that they have no qualms about hiding the facts from you.
    - gcheong 17y ago
      I think you said it yourself. You've seen a ton of evidence that the vaccines are safe (and presumably very little evidence otherwise). If you believe they are credible sources then you should make your decision based on the available evidence, not some worry that the CDC has other evidence that they are hiding from you.
    - nollidge 17y ago
      Do you have evidence that the CDC is hiding data from the public in this case?

Herd immunity helps, but the problem is that no vaccine is 100% effective and there are those who can't get vaccinated for health reasons (such as allergies, compromised immune systems, etc.). So, if you like, we're all relying on herd immunity to some extent, and people (hard not to type "morons") who don't vaccinate themselves or their kids are reducing the level of herd immunity. They're putting other people at risk--not just their own kids.

scott_s 17y ago
And, sadly, from the article: "“I used to say that the tide would turn when children started to die. Well, children have started to die,” Offit says, frowning as he ticks off recent fatal cases of meningitis in unvaccinated children in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. “So now I’ve changed it to ‘when enough children start to die.’ Because obviously, we’re not there yet.”"

tomjen2 17y ago

Well, no they have to catch it from somebody that _do_ have it in the first place, so the real culprit is those who have the decease currently. But yeah, statistically you are most likely to get to sick if you aren't vaccinated but at a certain point vaccination doesn't make sense at all.

83457 17y ago
So the non-vaccinated aren't the real culprits because they have to get it from someone who has the disease because they are not vaccinated?

Alex3917 17y ago

How are you supposed to make an educated decision about the safety of these vaccines, when there's a good chance that the CDC is lying to you about the data? Just read RFK's article on the vaccine autism link: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7395411/deadly_immunity/ http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7395411/deadly_im... I've seen a ton of evidence since this article saying that the vaccine-autism link is false. However I've seen zero evidence that the alleged CDC cover up of the safety information didn't actually occur. How are you supposed to make an educated decision about the safety of these products when the head of the CDC vaccine division goes on record saying they are hiding information about their safety.

gthank 17y ago
You mean the article that the submitted article explicitly calls out as unbelievably shoddy, and for which Rolling Stone has issued multiple corrections?
- Alex3917 17y ago
  I know the science in the article is wrong. But if you actually read the article, it isn't really about the science, it's about the CDC hiding data from the public. And this has not been challenged, in fact the CDC admits it. So I ask again, how are you supposed to make an educated decision based on facts, when the CDC admits that they have no qualms about hiding the facts from you.
  - gcheong 17y ago
    I think you said it yourself. You've seen a ton of evidence that the vaccines are safe (and presumably very little evidence otherwise). If you believe they are credible sources then you should make your decision based on the available evidence, not some worry that the CDC has other evidence that they are hiding from you.
  - nollidge 17y ago
    Do you have evidence that the CDC is hiding data from the public in this case?