User:Callinus/calivax

Vaccine controversies - California

Measles US 1944-2007, showing the effect of vaccination

In December 2014, a measles outbreak began at Disneyland in Southern California. At least 133 people have become infected with measles in 8 states, as of February, 2015. Health officials say 39 cases have been traced to direct exposure at the park, while the rest seem to be infection due to secondary exposure or an unknown vector. Among the 110 California patients, 49 (45%) were unvaccinated; five (5%) had 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, seven (6%) had 2 doses, one (1%) had 3 doses, 47 (43%) had unknown or undocumented vaccination status, and one (1%) had immunoglobulin G seropositivity documented, which indicates prior vaccination or measles infection at an undetermined time. 12 of the unvaccinated patients were infants too young to be vaccinated. Medical professionals, such as David Gorski, have criticized physicians and pediatricians in the area who do not adhere to the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule or discourage vaccination, among them Bob Sears and Jay Gordon for reducing vaccination rates and thus weakening herd immunity, and creating a situation in which an outbreak was more likely.

In response to the Disneyland outbreak, California proposed Senate Bill SB277 that would remove non-medical objections to vaccination. Jerry Brown signed the law on 30 June 2015 after it passed with a bipartisan majority.

On April 24, 2015, Andrew Wakefield, known for his fraudulent research paper linking the MMR vaccine to autism, received two standing ovations from the students at Life Chiropractic College West when he told them to oppose Senate Bill SB277, a bill which proposes limits on non-medical vaccine exemptions. Responding to his critics, he stated that "[i]t doesn’t matter if I go to the grave discredited. I don't care what they say about me. In fact, I have nothing to lose now. This is such an important issue." Wakefield had previously been a featured speaker at a 2014 "California Jam" gathering of chiropractors, as well as a 2015 "California Jam" seminar, with continuing education credits, sponsored by Life Chiropractic College West.

Robert Sears opposes to California's Senate Bill SB277, a bill which proposes limits on non-medical vaccine exemptions. He also invoked Godwin's law by comparing anti-vaxxers to Nazi-persecuted Jews. A fellow pediatrician considered the comparison "disgraceful":

"To compare the plight of the Jews under Hitler to that of those who willingly forego a preventive treatment that safeguards not only the health of their children, but the community as a whole is to lose all moral grounding. It is to purloin the most appalling suffering of the 20th century’s greatest victims, and assign it to those whose choices make not only themselves but their neighbors less safe. It is repulsive.... Dr. Bob Sears should be ashamed of himself."