Fact Checking GOP Candidates on the Subject of Vaccines
Sep 17, 2015
The day after any GOP Presidential Debate there is guaranteed to be a lot of conversation over false claims made by presidential hopefuls. Today is no different.
By now, you may have seen the various news clips and numerous articles that pertain to comments made by several GOP candidates on the topic of vaccines and vaccine safety.
Immunization experts are concerned because these statements are not all supported by scientific evidence. It is imperative that the American public understands that the recommended vaccine schedule is not only safe, but that is has been effective in saving three-quarter of a million lives, preventing 322 million illnesses, avoiding 21,000 hospitalizations, and saving $1.38 trillion in health care costs in the U.S. over the past two decades alone.
Today, organizations that work to educate the public on the topics of vaccines and autism, such as Every Child By Two and the Autism Science Foundation, have issued formal statements in response to the many inaccuracies made by several Presidential candidates last night.
Statement from Every Child By Two Regarding Vaccine Comments Made During the GOP Debate on September 16, 2015
Our country has achieved the highest immunization rates in history thanks to the vast majority of parents who are choosing to vaccinate their children according to the rigorously tested vaccine schedule recommended by CDC. In fact, the percentage of children who receive no vaccinations in this country is less than 1%. The CDC schedule has been carefully developed with an eye toward protecting vulnerable infants as early as possible against dangerous infectious diseases. Study after study shows that vaccines are just a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands of challenges a baby’s immune system is exposed to the moment she leaves her mother’s womb. Yet, some parents today are being swayed by misinformation that has caused them to delay or decline vaccinating their children, jeopardizing the health of many others. The measles outbreak earlier this year in California is a poignant reminder of our need to protect all children.
For hundreds of years, politicians on both sides of the aisles have supported vaccinations by making real and meaningful laws to protect the public’s health. We cannot turn children’s health into another pointless political battleground.
Every Child By Two- Carter/Bumpers Champions for Immunization (ECBT) is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among families. Founded in 1991 by Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Former First Lady of Arkansas Betty Bumpers, ECBT plays an integral role in helping to set immunization bi-partisan policies and implement vaccination efforts that have lasting impact on the health of our nation.
A Reckless Discussion About Vaccines and Autism Hits the Political Stage
Don’t take your medical advice from a politician.
Donald Trump is a part of a fringe movement that includes Jenny McCarthy and others who have dangerously perpetuated the false link between vaccines and autism. The facts are clear. Vaccines do not cause autism. Some people may not like the facts, but they don’t get to change them, even if they are running for president of the United States.
Politicians aren’t pediatricians and they are wrong to speak casually about altering the vaccine schedule in an effort to score political points. The CDC vaccine schedule is carefully and scientifically developed to protect children when they are most vulnerable. Many diseases are far more deadly if contracted by an infant. All vaccines are important. It’s alarming that the physicians on the stage at the debate on September 16th didn’t know better.
We have seen the effects of misinformation on our children’s health. The measles outbreak at the beginning of this year that began in California is just one example of what can happen when we don’t protect our children by vaccinating on-time, every time.
If you are wondering about the safety of vaccines, please take a moment to visit the websites of the organizations quoted above. Vaccines are continuously and extensively studied, and contrary to what some politicians may believe, the science tells us that the schedule is safe, vaccines don’t cause autism, and there is no basis of concern that infants may be getting too many vaccines too soon.
There is plenty of information on our Vaccinate Your Baby website, to include links to numerous peer-reviewed studies that address each and every concern. We encourage you to review them all and share them widely.
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