Washington State is a hotbed of anti-vaccine sentiment. It had a very liberal policy that allows parents not to immunize their kids for religious or philosphical reasons.. Here's a copy of the exemption form
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/documents/coe2011.pdf
So why is the CDC punting on the whooping cough outbreak in Washingon? Here's the CDC spokesperson on the epidemic:
'Adults and teens need booster shots so they don't give pertussis to the babies in their lives, said CDC spokeswoman Alison Patti
"We want to create a cocoon of protection around them," she said. "We're really worried about keeping babies safe."
Patti emphasized that pertussis isn't spreading because of an anti-vaccine movement. Among possible reasons for the recent spike are that diagnoses in teens and adults are getting better and doctors are doing a better job with reporting, she added.'
This is nonsense. While outbreaks go in five year cycles, the incidence has skyrocketed in places where anti-vaccine sentiment is strongest: including Idaho, New Mexico, Madison, WI, Woodstock, NY and Vermont.
Under Obama, the CDC has been ducking the source of vaccine resistance and in some cases, caving into it. Perhaps its because their anti-sugar allies are also anti-vaccine or because the states essential to the president's re-election are also the one's where the anti-vax movements are strongest..
This is pure speculation on my part. But in any event, the lack of leadership on immunizations at the CDC is troubling. Bad enough that CDC is using cost-effectiveness analysis to decide whether it's worth paying for new vaccines under Obamacare. Ignoring a principal threat to herd immunity is even worse.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/documents/coe2011.pdf
So why is the CDC punting on the whooping cough outbreak in Washingon? Here's the CDC spokesperson on the epidemic:
'Adults and teens need booster shots so they don't give pertussis to the babies in their lives, said CDC spokeswoman Alison Patti
"We want to create a cocoon of protection around them," she said. "We're really worried about keeping babies safe."
Patti emphasized that pertussis isn't spreading because of an anti-vaccine movement. Among possible reasons for the recent spike are that diagnoses in teens and adults are getting better and doctors are doing a better job with reporting, she added.'
This is nonsense. While outbreaks go in five year cycles, the incidence has skyrocketed in places where anti-vaccine sentiment is strongest: including Idaho, New Mexico, Madison, WI, Woodstock, NY and Vermont.
Under Obama, the CDC has been ducking the source of vaccine resistance and in some cases, caving into it. Perhaps its because their anti-sugar allies are also anti-vaccine or because the states essential to the president's re-election are also the one's where the anti-vax movements are strongest..
This is pure speculation on my part. But in any event, the lack of leadership on immunizations at the CDC is troubling. Bad enough that CDC is using cost-effectiveness analysis to decide whether it's worth paying for new vaccines under Obamacare. Ignoring a principal threat to herd immunity is even worse.
