This year there have been six confirmed measles outbreaks in 10 states, including New York, Texas, and Washington state. At least 159 people have been infected, mostly young children. All of the outbreaks have occurred in communities with low vaccination rates. Washington is one of 17 states that allows vaccine exemptions for personal philosophical reasons, and nearly one out of four kindergartners weren't vaccinated in Clark County, the epicenter of a measles outbreak that has prompted Washington's governor to declare a state of emergency. About 90 to 95 percent of a population needs to be vaccinated against measles in order to keep the disease from spreading. "Measles is exquisitely contagious," says Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County's public health director. "If you have a population that is unvaccinated, it's like throwing a match into a can of gasoline."
One in 10 children with measles suffers ear infections, while one in 20 develops pneumonia. Encephalitis, swelling of the brain that can cause permanent damage, affects 1 in 1,000. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, it's estimated that four million people in the U.S. were infected every year, with 48,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths. Vaccines also prevent other childhood diseases, such as mumps, whooping cough, and rubella, all of which can be dangerous. During the 1964–65 rubella epidemic, 11,000 babies exposed to the virus in utero were born deaf, 3,500 were born blind, and 1,800 were developmentally disabled.
In Oregon, which like Washington has allowed philosophical exemptions, House Bill 3063 would remove religious and philosophical exemptions for Oregon's required vaccines, leaving in place only a medical reason for a child to avoid vaccinations. The House Committee on Health Care held the first hearing on the bill Feb. 28, which was introduced last Friday.
Hundreds of people showed up to testify, many wearing red shirts to signal opposition. And a disturbing number of these nuts have gone so far as to threaten proponents:
Safety and harassment was at issue as much as public policy. Many witnesses favoring the change noted the threats they and others have received from vaccine skeptics. Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran, in support, said she was nervous to testify because of death threats some have received. "The tenor of this debate has gotten unhealthy, and frankly, dangerous," she said.
It'd be interesting to see how many of the opponents firmly believe in "man-made global warming".
Sadly, we've reached a point in this country wherein as far as Leftists are concerned, you'd better agree with them - or else. Lock and load....
The usual jerks are really upset about the Mueller report; they simply can't believe that he didn't nail Trump for something - ANYTHING!
The trouble with socialism is that you can vote your way into it but you have to shoot your way out.
