The Measles outbreak and RFK Jr.'s tepid endorsement of the vaccine

[lawgator1]

Doctors are wary of Kennedy's response to the Texas measles outbreak

As cases in Texas keep rising, some say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest statement is a "wink and a nod" to anti-vaccine groups.

www.nbcnews.com

This is a real problem and shows what happens when you put people into these important positions who really do not know what they are doing.

As of Tuesday, 159 measles cases had been confirmed in Texas. Most of the sick people, including a young child who died, hadn’t been vaccinated against the virus.

Kennedy acknowledged in the editorial that measles — one of the most contagious viruses in the world — is especially risky to unvaccinated people. He stopped short of urging the public to get the MMR vaccine.

“The decision to vaccinate is a personal one,” Kennedy wrote.

“While he kind of gives some lip service to the vaccines,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, “the fact that he used phrases like ‘personal’ choice is a wink and a nod to the anti-vaccine movement. They know he’s their man.”

Dr. Molly O’Shea, a Michigan pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the fact that Kennedy didn’t fully back vaccines is “concerning.”

“He certainly did not disparage vaccination in the way he worded it, but he did not come out with a strong statement of support for vaccination,” O’Shea said. “Vaccination is by far the most effective strategy at reducing morbidity and mortality from measles. That was not his go-to message.”

 

[hog88]

Doctors are wary of Kennedy's response to the Texas measles outbreak

As cases in Texas keep rising, some say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest statement is a "wink and a nod" to anti-vaccine groups.

www.nbcnews.com

This is a real problem and shows what happens when you put people into these important positions who really do not know what they are doing.

This needed it's own thread?

 

[lawgator1]

This needed it's own thread?

One person has died and a disease that was eradicated decades ago is reemerging, likely due to people not getting vaccinated. And the head of DHS, who is not qualified in any way to take the medical positions he has, contravenes well established science based on highly dubious-quality literature.

All against a backdrop of the most anti-science administration anyone can remember.

Yes, its worth a thread.

 

[volfanhill]

Good lord

"Kennedy, the health and human services secretary, wrote in an editorial published by Fox News on Sunday, that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine “is crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease.”



"Kennedy acknowledged in the editorial that measles — one of the most contagious viruses in the world — is especially risky to unvaccinated people. He stopped short of urging the public to get the MMR vaccine."


From your own stupid article.

Says vaccine crucial to avoid the disease
Says unvaccinated are especially at risk


And you start this nonsense

 

[McDad]

One person has died and a disease that was eradicated decades ago is reemerging, likely due to people not getting vaccinated. And the head of DHS, who is not qualified in any way to take the medical positions he has, contravenes well established science based on highly dubious-quality literature.

All against a backdrop of the most anti-science administration anyone can remember.

Yes, its worth a thread.

Measles is not reemerging. Every so often there is a local outbreak of measles, chicken pox or whatever which garners the news cycle. For the vast majority of kids it is non fatal.

RFK isn't taking away anyone's vaccine. He is asking for the same rigor of testing as with other drugs, which I think is common sense.

 

[utvolpj]

One person has died and a disease that was eradicated decades ago is reemerging, likely due to people not getting vaccinated. And the head of DHS, who is not qualified in any way to take the medical positions he has, contravenes well established science based on highly dubious-quality literature.

All against a backdrop of the most anti-science administration anyone can remember.

Yes, its worth a thread.

One whole person?

Wouldn't eradicated indicate the cases were at zero period to now?

 

[McDad]

Is this local community where the outbreak occurred special in some way? Amish? recent immigrants? parents which refused to vaccinate?

anybody know?

 

[utvolpj]

Is this local community where the outbreak occurred special in some way? Amish? recent immigrants? parents which refused to vaccinate?

anybody know?

107 of the 159 cases are from Gaines County’s Mennonite community

 

[McDad]

107 of the 159 cases are from Gaines County’s Mennonite community

There you go. They aren't vaccinating no matter what RFK jr or anybody else says.

 

[Grand Vol]

107 of the 159 cases are from Gaines County’s Mennonite community

Pretty much end of thread...

 

[McDad]

Good job, LG. You are the king of smoke and mirrors.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

@kiddiedoc

Thoughts on MMR vaccine being given at the same time with COVID shot? Heard some rumblings in the news a couple weeks back or so about this.

 

[Ritzwatch]

His response is anything but tepid; it encourages the vaccine in a responsible way that accounts for needs of the individual within the context of providing medical services.

His response, per USA Today:

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation's top health official, is asking parents to consider measles vaccinations for their children – though not outright suggesting them – as the once-eradicated disease spreads through Texas and other states.

Referring to the deadly outbreak as a "call to action," Kennedy wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday on Fox News Digital that parents should consult with physicians about the MMR vaccine, which also covers mumps and rubella.

"The decision to vaccinate is a personal one," Kennedy wrote. "Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons."

Why is RFK Jr's statement responsible? As you have stated, one person has currently died from the outbreak. As stated in the article, as backed by solid medical scientific research, there is a percentage of the population that should not take the vaccine, whether due to allergies to components of the vaccine, or due to compromised immune systems, etc. Statistically speaking, more than one person would have died by now if everyone was forced/mandated/required to have the vaccine.

What RFK, Jr. has done is promote parents talking to their children's doctors about the appropriate medical care for the child. This should be applauded. If he came out to say "Every American has a duty to their fellow Americans to take this vaccine, and we are hereby requiring all Americans take it." Well, that would be dangerous to vulnerable populations.

It is actually refreshing to me, as a American with a medical history that needs to be considered when making treatment decisions, that some politician who has never met me is willing to defer to my judgment, in consultation with my medical providers, as to what treatments should be best for me and my family.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Good job, LG. You are the king of smoke and mirrors.

The sad part is that we have to participate in LG's threads because he creates a $hit ton of them. He's been buying up the market for years! Gotta tip your hat to him.

 

[volfanhill]

His response is anything but tepid; it encourages the vaccine in a responsible way that accounts for needs of the individual within the context of providing medical services.

His response, per USA Today:

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation's top health official, is asking parents to consider measles vaccinations for their children – though not outright suggesting them – as the once-eradicated disease spreads through Texas and other states.

Referring to the deadly outbreak as a "call to action," Kennedy wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday on Fox News Digital that parents should consult with physicians about the MMR vaccine, which also covers mumps and rubella.

"The decision to vaccinate is a personal one," Kennedy wrote. "Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons."

Why is RFK Jr's statement responsible? As you have stated, one person has currently died from the outbreak. As stated in the article, as backed by solid medical scientific research, there is a percentage of the population that should not take the vaccine, whether due to allergies to components of the vaccine, or due to compromised immune systems, etc. Statistically speaking, more than one person would have died by now if everyone was forced/mandated/required to have the vaccine.

What RFK, Jr. has done is promote parents talking to their children's doctors about the appropriate medical care for the child. This should be applauded. If he came out to say "Every American has a duty to their fellow Americans to take this vaccine, and we are hereby requiring all Americans take it." Well, that would be dangerous to vulnerable populations.

It is actually refreshing to me, as a American with a medical history that needs to be considered when making treatment decisions, that some politician who has never met me is willing to defer to my judgment, in consultation with my medical providers, as to what treatments should be best for me and my family.

"Screw you you anti science, anti vaxing, baby and grandma killing, should lose your job, non science trusting, piece of crap. "

I don't know why that messaging didn't resonate well with some people a few years ago.

 

[McDad]

The sad part is that we have to participate in LG's threads because he creates a $hit ton of them. He's been buying up the market for years! Gotta tip your hat to him.

like his stock picks, he buys high and sells low.

 

[volfanhill]

LG wanted him to go on all the networks and shriek if everyone doesn't get vaccinated then this will happen

 

[McDad]

LG wanted him to go on all the networks and say if everyone doesn't get vaccinated then this will happen


View attachment 726016

No chance.

The "F" in RFK jr doesn't stand for Fauci.

 

[Orangeburst]

No chance.

The "F" in RFK jr doesn't stand for Fauci.

Farkas?

 

[DC_Vol]

This needed it's own thread?

I haven’t seen his new thread wondering about apologies from the Democrats for their behavior last night.

I think a bump is in order.

 

[LouderVol]

One person has died and a disease that was eradicated decades ago is reemerging, likely due to people not getting vaccinated. And the head of DHS, who is not qualified in any way to take the medical positions he has, contravenes well established science based on highly dubious-quality literature.

All against a backdrop of the most anti-science administration anyone can remember.

Yes, its worth a thread.

where did he contravene well established science here?

 

[lawgator1]

The local Mennonite Church there has NOT told parents to get, or not get, the vaccine for their kids.

West Texans, Mennonites at center of measles outbreak choose medical freedom over vaccine mandates

Measles has sickened nearly 160 mostly unvaccinated people in rural West Texas, and a school-age child has died.

apnews.com

And though Klassen is a trusted church and community leader, his congregants haven’t asked about whether they should vaccinate their kids — and he wouldn’t want to weigh in.
“With this measles situation, I can honestly just tell you we haven’t taken any steps as a church,” he said. “We did leave it up to the mothers.”

"Leave it up to the mothers" and RFK, Jr. saying "Its a personal choice" is the same thing. But RFK, Jr., is the head of HHS, he is THE spokesperson for the US gov't, and he's being at best non-committal about it.

Of course no one can force someone to get the vaccine. But when RFK, Jr.., makes a wishy washy comment like that, he implies there may be a reason not to get the vaccine, and no responsible health care professional supports that.

I therefore am not saying that RFK, Jr., must tell people "You have to get the vaccine," but I do expect him to say that its been around for decades, it works, and there is no scientific credible reason to doubt its safety.

He refuses to do that, it is irresponsible in the extreme, and it is a glimpse into the no, or at best pseudo-science, views of both RFK, Jr., and Trump.

 

[McDad]

Farkas?

Absolutely not. That's only for one person.

 

[05_never_again]

Everybody should get the measles vaccine, but this isn't a story. At least not yet.

Measles Cases and Outbreaks

Find the latest numbers of confirmed U.S. measles cases. CDC updates this page weekly

www.cdc.gov

 

[McDad]

The local Mennonite Church there has NOT told parents to get, or not get, the vaccine for their kids.

West Texans, Mennonites at center of measles outbreak choose medical freedom over vaccine mandates

Measles has sickened nearly 160 mostly unvaccinated people in rural West Texas, and a school-age child has died.

apnews.com

"Leave it up to the mothers" and RFK, Jr. saying "Its a personal choice" is the same thing. But RFK, Jr., is the head of HHS, he is THE spokesperson for the US gov't, and he's being at best non-committal about it.

Of course no one can force someone to get the vaccine. But when RFK, Jr.., makes a wishy washy comment like that, he implies there may be a reason not to get the vaccine, and no responsible health care professional supports that.

I therefore am not saying that RFK, Jr., must tell people "You have to get the vaccine," but I do expect him to say that its been around for decades, it works, and there is no scientific credible reason to doubt its safety.

He refuses to do that, it is irresponsible in the extreme, and it is a glimpse into the no, or at best pseudo-science, views of both RFK, Jr., and Trump.

Screech on, Screech Owl.

Your premise is absurd. Mennonites, Amish, and other sects commonly avoid 'modern medicine'. Not all do, but it is common. Been true no matter how vociferously the HHS director pushes vaccines.