Suppose you had chest pain, were short of breath, and very quickly ran out of energy. Your doctor (a cardiologist) did some tests and told you that you had a coronary artery blockage which could be fixed by inserting a stent. This would restore blood flow to your heart, eliminate your symptoms, and greatly increase your chance of a long, healthy life. You learn that this is a common procedure, with a very high success rate. Problems are extremely rare, although of course no surgery presents absolutely zero risk. You come home and tell your neighbor, who also happens to be a local elected official. She encourages you to not have the surgery, based on her account of having similar symptoms and being cured by taking an antacid. What’s more, she will recommend that the local hospital not allow this surgery anymore – it is costing her community too much. Whose recommendation will you be following?
This situation may sound far-fetched, but resembles what is happening now with childhood vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has about 67,000 members – pediatricians, pediatric specialists, and other medical professionals who take care of children. The AAP has a subcommittee – the Committee on Infectious Diseases – an elite group of experts that makes recommendations about childhood vaccines. These recommendations have been consistent for a long time, as childhood infectious diseases in the United States have been well controlled.
Their recommendations are used by the states in setting requirements for children enrolling in schools. The federal government has no regulatory authority governing administering approved vaccines. Its role has been strictly advisory — to make recommendations (which historically have been the same as the AAP’s.)
Recently the federal government replaced the physicians and scientists on its own vaccine recommendation committee, largely on political grounds. This new group has changed its recommendations considerably. Very recently the President issued an executive order to change the current childhood vaccine schedule following this new group’s recommendations. Why is the federal government now trying to take authority away from the states and local governments? Why does it now believe that “big government” needs to step in? The AAP continues to recommend what has been working for many years. As an example of what can happen when past practices are ignored, the U.S. has had about 2500 cases of measles this year following a reduction in immunization based on response to federal (big government) political recommendations. This comes after measles was officially declared eliminated in the United States in 2000! Following the science matters when it comes to protecting our children.
Most likely Virginia schools will continue to follow AAP vaccination recommendations and not gamble with the health of our children. For just one example, our kids now get one combined vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The federal government now recommends replacing the MMR with three independent vaccinations! Each of our kids would need three shots to replace the single MMR. We have more than 50 years of evidence that the MMR works. And who wants to subject their child to three shots instead of one? Searching for a rationale for these new recommendations, I just can’t find one that knowledgeable physicians and scientists support. Of course, there are a few contrarians who will claim the opposite – but with so many years of success behind us why would anyone want to endanger their kids?
Vaccinations are the business of the state, the schools, and the parents. We have been keeping our kids healthy following the advice of the AAP. Does anyone really want to follow the advice of their neighbor rather than their cardiologist when dealing with their potentially fatal chest pain?
