Rand One-Ups Christie On Vaccinations: Most 'Ought To Be Voluntary'

[DonViejo]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Monday said that most vaccinations ought to be voluntary, a stance that goes beyond his old rival New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) view on parental choice in immunizations.

Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham asked Paul whether vaccines should be mandatory after Christie's office tried to walk back the governor's remarks on allowing parents to have "some measure of choice" in vaccinating their children. Paul went a step further than his potential 2016 presidential opponent in his response.

"I'm not anti-vaccine at all, but particularly, most of them ought to be voluntary," Paul said. "What happens if you have somebody not want to take the smallpox vaccine and it ruins it for everybody else? I think there are times in which there can be some rules, but for the most part it ought to be voluntary."

The Kentucky senator then brought up the failed 2011 push by another potential 2016 rival, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), to require sixth-grade girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, which protects against HPV, as an example of an unnecessary mandate.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rand-paul-vaccines-voluntary

[targetpractice]

1. And he's a doctor?!? n/t

[riversedge]

2. Day by day, Repubs are pushing the U.S backwards!!

[sadoldgirl]

3. That had to be expected from a Libertarian. n/t

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Let the Stupid run their mouths.

Many of us remember what it was like in the late forties when we epidemics after epidemics of Messels and Mumps,Whooping Cough then Polio. Oh,forgot the Chicken Pocks as well as Small Pocks. Living in Northern Wisconsin at the time,every School Aged person was Immunized and it was mandatory. This action stopped any further out breaks with the exception of Polio,which did not have a Vaccine at the time. How soon we forget and nobody seems to read History on origins of or cause of Illness's. In the forties it was displaced persons from Europe and Pacific Islands as well as our retuning Troops that carried many of these infectious virus's and diseases. Seems to me there were anti voices clamoring the same crap that is coming from the Stupid Nut Jobs on the right today. How soon we forget. Please get the damn shots,if you want the old time Quarantines of your whole household then keep up the stupid. Been there and done that and have the pock scares as well as the shingles.

[msanthrope]

5. Give that man a microphone!!! nt

[louis-t]

6. Too bad the rubes can't makr the distinction.

When it was Ebola, Obama couldn't do enough and got blamed for it, but when it's anti-vaxxer Libertarians, it's their right to not get vaxxed.

[WDIM]

7. hate to agree with a repug

But he is right. The govenrment has no authority to mandate medical treatment upon its people. Medicine i chose is between me and my doctor.

More people die world wide from the flu every year yet i see nobody advocating manditory flu shots. Or quarinting people with the flu.

A little research will show you over the last ten years there has been zero deaths from the measles in the US including this current outbreak, but over 100 deaths attributed to the measles vaccine.

Why are there so many people buying into the medias fear hype? And why when the media does sell you fear your only answer is to erode the civil liberties of others?

[DonViejo]

9. Oh, really?...

A little research will show you over the last ten years there has been zero deaths from the measles in the US including this current outbreak, but over 100 deaths attributed to the measles vaccine.

I did the research, this is what I came up with so far:

Updated 9:36 PM ET, Fri April 25, 2014

-snip-

The last time there was a reported (emphasis added by me, DonViejo) death from measles in the U.S. was in 2005, says Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Schuchat credits the CDC's Vaccines for Children program with contributing to high immunization rates and the dramatic decrease of measles in the U.S.

-snip-

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/24/health/measles-record-number/

[HappyMe]

10. There has been zero deaths from measles

BECAUSE of vaccines. That's how it works!

[DonViejo]

11. More...

Fact sheet N°286
Updated November 2014

Key facts

-Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available.

-In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths globally – about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour. (emphasis added by me, Don)

-Measles vaccination resulted in a 75% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2013 worldwide.

-In 2013, about 84% of the world's children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services – up from 73% in 2000.

-During 2000-2013, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 15.6 million deaths making measles vaccine one of the best buys in public health.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/

[WDIM]

13. Then get the vaccine.

Im not against the vaccine. Im only saying the government doesnt have the right to force it on people.

The individual should chose what is right for them with the guidence of their doctor.

This current out break is going to be brief and id be surprised if one person dies in the US.

[MohRokTah]

14. The government sure as shit has the power and the right to force vaccination. eom

[WDIM]

17. well that is your tyrannical view of government power

But i have to disagree.

[MohRokTah]

19. What do you think would happen if an extreme epidemic would occur?

Martial law and forced vaccination.

And the punishment for failure to comply in such a situation would be far more severe than my isolation solution.

[WDIM]

20. but there wont be an extreme epidemic

Because over 90 percent of the public is vaccinated. Unless the vaccination is not working we will not reach epidemic status.

Im not saying dont get vaccinated im saying the individual should make that choice with their doctor. And statiscally speaking most every one makes the choice for vaccination.

People are just over reacting to another fear campaign as isual.

[MohRokTah]

21. No. individuals should not have a choice where a societal risk exists.

It's not a fear campaign. This has been an ongoing issue since the antiVaxxer nonsense began and it's only gotten worse. Herd immunity for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chickenpox are now broken. Polio is not far behind. This is madness and the choice must be removed.

Vaccinations should be mandatory with medical necessity as the only exception.

Failure to comply should be imprisonment in complete isolation.

[DonViejo]

22. I got the vaccine when measles were sweeping the country...

I agree, you don't want the vaccine but prefer to place your own health, the health of your family and your community in jeopardy? Fine, don't get the vaccine and be fined $5,000.

[3catwoman3]

8. There is a rich irony in Rand Paul...

...attempting to make his point using the smallpox vaccine. Smallpox vaccinations are no longer given precisely because of the efficacy and wide spread acceptance of/participation in the immunization program to wipe out this disease.

[Avalux]

12. I think the GOPers want people to die, seriously.

Everything they do is anti-people. They foment dissent based on race, religion and sex, and they put laws in place that benefit those who have $$, not those who are struggling to eat and keep a roof over their heads.

Evil.

[WDIM]

15. you do realize most of the "anti-vaxxer"

As the marketing machine of the fear mongers like to call them.

Most of the people against vaccines over the last ten years id say fall to the left of the political pendulum.

[Avalux]

16. Please show me evidence of that.

And I should have clarified, not talking about the sheeple, but those elected officials doing the bidding of the ruling class.

[WDIM]

18. look at the people who have spoken out against vaccines

Over the last ten years numerous celebrities and other public figures have come out against vaccines.

Id say the "ruling class" is by and large pro-vaccines.