The recent outbreaks of whooping cough in Snohomish County are concerning. Unfortunately, it is extremely easy to get an exemption from immunizations in our state — and this is not a good thing. Simply put, vaccines save lives. And they do so most effectively when we all are vaccinated.
Yet
Washington has one of the highest exemption rates in the United States. The majority (95 percent) of the exemptions among school-aged children are for “personal reasons” — not medical reasons or religious beliefs. Personal reasons, in essence, means, “I am personally or philosophically opposed, and therefore I’m not getting my child immunized.”
I’m all for personal freedom, but my freedom doesn’t allow me to risk the health of those around me. Vaccinations don’t just protect the individual, they protect our entire society. Childhood vaccinations are among the most effective ways to protect children against serious and preventable illnesses, some of which have no cure or treatment.
And, they don’t just protect the child getting the shot; they protect all those people who come in contact with that child.
An outbreak of disease can start from one person. In fact, half of the measles cases in the United States in a 2005 outbreak were associated with just one unvaccinated visitor from Europe. If there is an outbreak of whooping cough, and it impacts a child in a school, all of the unvaccinated children must be sent home until the incubation period is over.
For the past couple of years, the Washington State Medical Association has advocated for passage of SB 5005 and its companion bill, HB 1015. Both bills ask parents who seek an exemption to include a statement to be signed by a health care practitioner stating that he or she has provided the parent/guardian with information about the benefits and risks of immunization. These bills are currently making their way through the Legislature and deserve public support.
There is a lot of misinformation about the risks of vaccines, most spread by bogus “research” that has been irrefutably and justifiably discredited. A recent report found that one widely known study on the risk of vaccines was not just in error but was actually fraudulent. Studies have consistently demonstrated that vaccines are the best way to protect our children from potentially life-changing illness.
I encourage you to speak to your physician or other health care provider to get the facts. Don’t be quick to walk away from getting your child immunized without taking a moment to explore the benefits and risks with your physician.
With the passage of SB 5005/HB 1015, and physicians educating families about the benefits of vaccines, we can make sure parents get the information they need to make the best decision for their children and their classmates. That’s good for everyone.
Dr. Dean Martz is the president of the Washington State Medical Association. The WSMA represents more than 9,800 physicians and surgeons throughout Washington state.
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