Get The Shots. Get Them Now.

Article link from Payson Roundup Feb. 9, 2015 here.

The shocking return of measles as a killer scourge demonstrates the cost of our vulnerability to junk science and professional alarmists.

It also demonstrates a great challenge for we journalists, as we seek balance in an unbalanced world.

A case of measles at Disneyland has underscored a frightening trend, spreading new measles cases across the country thanks to the terrible ease with which this virus spreads.

The Disneyland case made headlines and led to a cluster of cases and exposures in the Valley. But it only dramatized the creeping return of a once epidemic scourge. Just a few years ago, the U.S. reported only a handful of measles cases, thanks to the effectiveness of a vaccine that also prevents mumps and rubella — once common afflictions of childhood.

But last year, health officials reported nearly 700 cases. This year promises to be worse — perhaps much worse.

What happened?

Several years ago, an unethical and irresponsible medical researcher faked the statistics in a scientific paper that claimed to have found a link between the measles vaccine — given in two doses to infants — and the development of autism. This seems like a sensational finding, especially in view of a frightening surge in the number of children diagnosed with autism.

As it turned out, he faked his results. The paper was withdrawn and the researcher was disgraced. Although some children have a reaction to the vaccine, it remains safe and effective. By contrast, the measles virus itself makes everyone who contracts it miserable — and can easily kill.

Alas, the bogus, junk science did enormous harm.

Many parents heard just enough of the rumors to decide they didn’t want to subject their children to the vaccine. Many states like Arizona thoughtlessly adopted laws that made it far too easy for parents to seek an exemption from school rules requiring vaccinations for children who attend.

As a consequence, the measles vaccination rate in the U.S. has fallen steadily. It has dwindled to about 92 percent, right on the edge of a level that will destroy the so-called “herd immunity” that keeps us safe. The loss of this vaccination-based immunity poses a special danger to infants too young to get a vaccination themselves.

All too often, reporters found themselves trapped by the rules of our own profession — so we became part of the problem. Journalists strive for fairness and balance. We try to cover all sides of a controversy. We try not to inject our own opinion and dispassionately quote even people we vehemently disagree with.

The peddlers of junk science and publicity hungry fear mongers know how to take advantage of the otherwise sound and worthy rules of journalism. Virtually every responsible expert on infectious diseases has dismissed the bogus alarms about the measles vaccine. They have with an urgent and unified voice urged parents to get their children vaccinated.

Unfortunately, a few hysterics and opportunists continue to peddle their snake oil information.

Far too often, journalists find themselves quoting one expert who represents the shared opinion of the responsible doctors — and then quoting the lone quack spouting nonsense with confidence. The reader is left with the impression that there’s still a debate about the safety of the vaccine.

Even irresponsible politicians like Sen. Rand Paul — himself a doctor — contribute to the problem by stressing parents’ rights to make ill-informed choices rather than the responsibility of every parent to protect their children — and everyone else’s children as well — by getting the vaccine.

Make no mistake: There’s no debate about the safety and benefit of the vaccine.

Every child should have the immunizations against measles, mumps and rubella.

And the state should change the law to carefully restrict the grounds on which parents can refuse to protect their children with the vaccine.

Enough of the junk science and confusion.

Get the vaccine. Get it now. Protect our children.