General Discussion

HuckleB

(35,773 posts) Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:27 AM Dec 2015

Why ‘Tolerating’ Anti-Vaxxers Is a Losing Strategy

Last edited Fri Dec 11, 2015, 02:42 PM - Edit history (1)

http://time.com/4144359/vaccines-tolerance-anti-vaxxers-melbourne-australia/

"Now and then, in just the right situations, there’s a lot to be said for intolerance—especially when it comes to the safety of kids. We don’t tolerate bullying in schools on the false belief that a few scuffles can build character. We don’t tolerate smoking on playgrounds because parents should have the right to determine the tobacco habits of their second-graders.

And we shouldn’t—but too often still do—tolerate parents who deny established science and refuse to vaccinate their school-age children, potentially endangering every other child in the school and the community beyond as well. That’s a lesson the families at Brunswick North West Primary School in Melbourne, Australia are learning in the worst way possible after as many as 80 of 320 students—or up to 25% of the student body—have been struck by chicken pox in just the past two weeks, thanks to the school’s liberal policies concerning vaccine refusers.

Brunswick’s no-vax tolerance was not just an unwritten thing, but was formally stated in a newsletter distributed in May. “Staff respects the right of every family to make choices about immunisation and we will definitely not exclude children who are not fully immunised from our service,” said the text of the newsletter, according to the Victorian edition of the newspaper The Age. “We expect all community members to act respectfully and with tolerance when interacting with other parents and carers who may have a differing opinion to their own.”

The same newsletter conceded that the school’s vaccination rate was only 73.2%—far below the level needed to ensure herd immunity (generally over 90%), which protects the few people in any community who can’t be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons. That made the school a target-rich opportunity for the chicken pox virus. Across the local postal code the vaccine rate is 92%; it’s a slightly lower 90.2 in the entire state of Victoria.

..."

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Anti-vaxxer's baby hospitalised with whooping cough (then lies to docs to get the kid released)
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/antivaxxers-baby-hospitalised-with-whooping-cough-20151211-gll6hl.html

"The 11-week-old daughter of an anti-vaccination activist has been hospitalised for two nights with whooping cough, a week after a maternal health nurse told child protection authorities of her concerns for the unvaccinated baby girl.

But hours after being discharged from hospital on Friday, the Melbourne woman struck a defiant note, hinting to other members of the Facebook group Unvaccinated Australia that she had lied to hospital doctors in order to leave the hospital.

Doctors had urged her to immunise the baby because having had the disease only gives a child immunity for five years, and the vaccine contains immunisations in addition to pertussis.

"I ended up sayIng I would be talking to GP about it juto [sic] shut them up," she told supporters.

..."

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13 replies

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Highlight:

Why ‘Tolerating’ Anti-Vaxxers Is a Losing Strategy (Original Post) HuckleB Dec 2015 OP

The are dangerous and stupid. onecaliberal Dec 2015 #1

"It's a difference of opinion" is what I always hear. Dr Hobbitstein Dec 2015 #2

Actually, if someone says SheilaT Dec 2015 #4

It's amazing. There is such a disconnect with the real world. HuckleB Dec 2015 #10

If a child already has whooping cough, SheilaT Dec 2015 #3

If the dipshit mother had gotten the vaccine for her child in the first place Dr Hobbitstein Dec 2015 #5

The story notes that it would likely improve long-term immunity. HuckleB Dec 2015 #7

until kids start going blind, deaf and become paralyzed (among other things) like the old days... Javaman Dec 2015 #6

I'm afraid you might be right. HuckleB Dec 2015 #9

Home Schoolers, Anti-GMO, Climate Deniers and Anti-Vaxxers are extremist loons... 951-Riverside Dec 2015 #8

LBN thread on this topic. HuckleB Dec 2015 #11

And of course, DU's resident anti-vax asshat is on that thread. Dr Hobbitstein Dec 2015 #12

I guess it's inevitable. HuckleB Dec 2015 #13

onecaliberal

(32,880 posts)

1. The are dangerous and stupid.

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:34 AM

Dec 2015

Dr Hobbitstein

(6,568 posts)

2. "It's a difference of opinion" is what I always hear.

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:34 AM

Dec 2015

Fuck you, it's not. There are facts and there are opinions. If you're anti-vax, you're anti-facts.

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

4. Actually, if someone says

Reply to Dr Hobbitstein (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:36 AM

Dec 2015

"it's a different of opinion" the correct response would be, "There's not a difference of facts."

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

10. It's amazing. There is such a disconnect with the real world.

Reply to Dr Hobbitstein (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 01:09 PM

Dec 2015

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

3. If a child already has whooping cough,

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:35 AM

Dec 2015

isn't it a bit late to vaccinate?

Although after the child recovers, she should be getting the boosters on a regular schedule.

I got an adult dpt about six years ago. Need to remember to get another in a few more years.

Dr Hobbitstein

(6,568 posts)

5. If the dipshit mother had gotten the vaccine for her child in the first place

Reply to SheilaT (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:37 AM

Dec 2015

The child would have NEVER gotten whooping cough.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

7. The story notes that it would likely improve long-term immunity.

Reply to SheilaT (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 11, 2015, 11:40 AM

Dec 2015

Since the kid is likely exposed to siblings or others who are not vaccinated, which is the real problem here, improved immunity would be very important to this kid.