Vaccines are the key to public health: Guest columnist

By Carmen Rodriguez

Over the last two months I was shocked as an educator, mother and elected official to hear about the bogus debate in regard to vaccines on the heels of the measles outbreak in California. Let's be clear, first there is no debate, second the science is strong and indisputable -- there is absolutely no link to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism or brain damage. Furthermore, you can make no mistake about it, the public's health is compromised every time someone opts to not vaccinate their child.

Measles itself is one of the most contagious airborne diseases on the planet. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. Measles is a disease that can reap horrific consequences on children and anyone else that is infected by it.

Taking a step back into history, prior to the creation of a vaccine, measles would kill 6,000 people a year and even after the vaccine was developed it still was responsible for hospitalizing 48,000 a year and killing 400 to 500 individuals on an annual basis.

This was until the federal government made a push to completely eradicate the disease through nationwide inoculation. This was achieved 15-years-ago in 2000, but fast-forward to 2013 and according to the World Health Organization, our MMR vaccination rate has fallen to 91 percent. To put this in perspective there are several Third World nations with a better rate of vaccination than our country which is striking and should be reversed.

Did you know that 59 percent of the patients with measles in California are adults? I say this to stress that you are never too old to get vaccinated, in fact the federal government did not start requiring two doses of MMR until 1989, so if you only had one shot you should consult with your doctor to see if another dose of the vaccine is necessary. In addition, as a nation, we have access to a safe alternative to stop devastating diseases unlike other countries where health care workers are killed for vaccinating members of their society. My point being that the luxury of keeping yourself healthy and safe from diseases like measles is not afforded to all global citizens.

As a society we are dependent on herd immunity because there are segments of our population that are unable to be vaccinated. These are individuals who cannot be immunized including infants, individuals who have medical conditions making them immunocompromised, and a small number of people who are allergic to the vaccine. In the State of New Jersey so far we have had one reported case of the measles. I believe, as do public health officials, we need to have a constant dialogue about this issue to thoroughly discredit anyone who undermines the need for vaccinations.

Here at the Camden County Health Department, we carry the MMR vaccine at our health clinics that are open to the public every day during the work week.

source: http://www.nj.com/

 

  • angka jitu
  • togel 4d
  • agen togel
  • slot 4d
  • bandar toto 4d
  • togel 4d
  • togel online
  • rajabandot
  • slot gacor
  • toto macau
  • toto macau
  • toto macau
  • toto macau
  • situs toto
  • situs slot
  • rtp live slot
  • toto slot
  • bandar slot
  • toto macau
  • bandar togel online
  • togel online
  • togel sdy
  • togel online
  • toto macau
  • hongkong lotto
  • hongkong lotto
  • situs slot
  • slot gacor
  • bandar slot 4d
  • bandar slot
  • bandar slot gacor
  • bandar slot gacor
  • slot dana
  • toto macau
  • bandar togel 4d
  • wengtoto
  • toto hk
  • slot dana
  • hk lotto
  • toto sdy
  • slot gacor
  • slot 5000
  • toto slot
  • toto togel 4D
  • toto macau
  • slot thailand
  • slot gacor
  • togel sidney
  • live draw sgp
  • Bandar Slot
  • bandar slot gacor
  • togel macau
  • toto slot
  • slot qris
  • slot toto 4d
  • Toto Togel 4D
  • sdy lotto
  • bola gacor
  • slot 5000
  • toto hongkong
  • toto slot
  • slot 5000
  • slot 5000
  • toto togel
  • slot 5000
  • slot 5000
  • slot 5000
  • situs toto
  • BATASRAJABANDOT
  • slot 777
  • slot gacor
  • slot gacor
  • Bandar Slot
  • Situs Slot
  • Bandar Slot
  • Slot Gacor
  • situs slot
  • slot toto Gacor
  • Bandar Situs Slot Gacor
  • slot online
  • bokep
  • toto slot
  • Slot Demo
  • situs togel
  • bola slot
  • hitam slot
  • permainan slot
  • dewa slot
  • agent slot
  • slot toto
  • slot gacor
  • slot gacor
  • toto slot
  • akun demo slot
  • toto slot
  • slot gacor
  • slot gacor
  • https://heylink.me/iblbettotoslot