California schools’ risks rise as vaccinations drop

The rise in unvaccinated children appears to be driven by affluent parents choosing not to immunize. Many do so because they fear the shots could trigger autism, a concern widely discredited in medical research.

The Times found that 1 in 11 elementary schools statewide may be at risk of an outbreak of an infectious disease such as measles, mumps or whooping cough. It’s a risk some parents are willing to take.

For generations, most children went unimmunized only if their parents couldn’t afford the shots, a problem now remedied through federal funds. A tiny percentage of children cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

This is so troubling.  We know the safety and efficacy of vaccination programs.  We know that herd immunity is extremely important, especially because, as the article notes, some individuals are unable to receive vaccinations.  Blehck.  I can understand objections to newer vaccines more than older vaccines.  But the vaccines for MMR have been around for ages and have saved millions from morbidity and mortality associated with those diseases.  Stop being hoity!