Anti-Vaxxer Legal Fight Could Set Precedent for Children’s Health

A divorced father of two is battling his children’s mother in court to get their two kids vaccinated. Their mother is an anti-vaccination conspiracy theorist, and their children have already contracted pertussis (whooping cough), a vaccine-preventable disease, due to their lack of shots.

If he wins, could this father end up setting a critically important precedent for the future of children’s health?

More >> Anti-Vaxxer Legal Fight Could Set Precedent for Children’s Health

Trump Says Parents Must Vaccinate Children as Measles Outbreak Reaches Record Highs

Measles cases in the United States have surpassed the highest number on record since the disease was declared eliminated nationwide in 2000.

Overall, there have been 681 measles cases across 22 states this year, according to CNN's analysis of data from state and local health departments.

More >> Trump Says Parents Must Vaccinate Children as Measles Outbreak Reaches Record Highs

• 2019 measles outbreak: How to track the spread in the US and other countries

Facebook launches offensive to combat misinformation on vaccines

Washington, Mar 8 Facebook launched an offensive Thursday to suppress the spread of misinformation about vaccines on the 2.3-billion-member social network.

The company has faced pressure in recent weeks to tackle the problem, amid outbreaks of measles around the United States attributed to growing numbers of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

US lawmakers have decried the higher incidences of preventable diseases in the wake of a movement against child vaccination, in large part due to rumors they can cause health or developmental issues.

More >> Facebook launches offensive to combat misinformation on vaccines

Unvaccinated Kids In Mass. Can Seek Immunization Without Parental Permission

More than 40 cases of measles, most in children under 10, have been reported in Washington State, largely because parents are not getting their kids vaccinated. Now unvaccinated children themselves are asking how they can get their shots without their parents’ consent.

More >> Unvaccinated Kids In Mass. Can Seek Immunization Without Parental Permission

If parents refuse to vaccinate their kids, should the state do it for them?

A leading ethicist says every child has a right to be vaccinated and protected against measles and other childhood infections

The Vaccine Information Network, an online community of like-minded parents who believe children are being “poisoned” by vaccines, recently posted a message describing measles as a mild and harmless disease that leaves a “stronger, healthier child in its wake.”

More >> If parents refuse to vaccinate their kids, should the state do it for them?

Number of Kentucky Kids Not Vaccinated Grows

Doctors are warning parents of the Hepatitis A outbreak across the state, and of measles. They are urging parents to have their children vaccinated, especially since more vaccines are required for children to go to school in the Commonwealth. However, there is an increasing number of children whose parents exempt them from immunizations, for medical and religious reasons. Doctors worry the number could be growing because of misinformation circulating online.

More >> Number of Kentucky Kids Not Vaccinated Grows

School with high vaccine exemptions has N.C.'s worst chickenpox outbreak since 1995

A chickenpox outbreak at a private school now ranks as the state's largest since a vaccine for the virus became available more than 20 years ago, health officials say.

As of Friday, 36 students at Asheville Waldorf School had contracted the varicella virus, known to most as chickenpox. The school has one of the highest vaccination religious exemption rates in North Carolina.

More >> School with high vaccine exemptions has N.C.'s worst chickenpox outbreak since 1995

Arizona cancels vaccine program after backlash from parents who don't vaccinate

The state of Arizona has canceled a vaccine education program after receiving complaints from parents who don't immunize their school-age children.

The pilot online course, modeled after programs in Oregon and Michigan, was created in response to the rising number of Arizona schoolchildren skipping school-required immunizations against diseases like measles, mumps and whooping cough because of their parents' beliefs.

More >> Arizona cancels vaccine program after backlash from parents who don't vaccinate

Texas can't let vaccination fears endanger children

Texas parents, we applaud the tens of thousands of you who will make the trek to the doctor this summer to get your kids’ vaccinations. You know that getting routine and timely shots has proven to help the U.S. fight off preventable childhood diseases.

But here’s a public health alert: You should be aware that the chances that your kid is sitting next to a student who hasn’t been vaccinated are growing at an alarming rate. That classmates’ parents have bought into discredited junk science and opted out of protecting their own kids. And they are endangering yours.

More >> Texas can't let vaccination fears endanger children

Emerging Hot Spots Of Disease Outbreaks Due To Parents Not Vaccinating Their Children

With the onset of parents deciding to not vaccinate their children, new research is showing that there are emerging hotspots of disease outbreaks associated with these lack of vaccinations. Through the work of vaccines, we have managed to evade and eliminate the risk of many diseases like measles and mumps.

More >> Emerging Hot Spots Of Disease Outbreaks Due To Parents Not Vaccinating Their Children

'No jab, no pay': thousands immunise children to avoid family payment cuts

The federal government’s ‘no jab, no pay’ policy has prompted thousands of parents who had previously refused to immunise their babies to get them vaccinated.


More >> 'No jab, no pay': thousands immunise children to avoid family payment cuts

Here’s why states want to make it tough to skip childhood vaccines

When Jennifer Stella’s two children were babies, she made sure they got all the usual vaccines. But when one started having seizures and the other developed eczema after they’d gotten immunizations, the Vermont woman decided her kids would no longer get shots required to attend school.

More >> Here’s why states want to make it tough to skip childhood vaccines

Court rules four children must have vaccines after mother objects

A family court judge has ruled that four children must be immunised after their Muslim mother refused consent because she said vaccines contained pork gelatine.


More >> Court rules four children must have vaccines after mother objects

Thousands at risk of unfairly losing welfare benefits because of "no jab no pay"

Thousands of Australians are at risk of having their welfare payments unfairly slashed because of inaccuracies in Australia's immunisation register, which is being used to process the Turnbull government's new "no jab, no pay" rules, health care workers say.

More >> Thousands at risk of unfairly losing welfare benefits because of "no jab no pay"

House panel OKs bill aimed at increasing child immunizations in Utah

The third time was the charm for a bill that requires parents to learn about preventable illnesses before exempting their children from immunizations.

More >> House panel OKs bill aimed at increasing child immunizations in Utah

Bill would prevent child vaccination opt-outs for personal reasons

Wisconsin parents would no longer be able to cite “personal conviction” for a reason to exempt their children from required vaccinations under a new bill currently being circulated at the Capitol.

More >> Bill would prevent child vaccination opt-outs for personal reasons

With more parents choosing not to vaccinate, Utah on brink of losing 'herd immunity'

Noah Chesler was excited to go back to school.

Not many 9-year-olds are. But Noah had been gone for nearly two years — after a bone marrow transplant left his immune system too weak to fight the onslaught of infections lurking around every classroom.

More >> With more parents choosing not to vaccinate, Utah on brink of losing 'herd immunity'

Pediatrician Mike Ginsberg's Facebook Vaccine Rant

On 2 February 2015, the Facebook page The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe published a picture of a Facebook comment attributed to a doctor identifying himself as Mike Ginsberg. The comment was offered during a then-current outbreak of measles that had been traced back to the Disney theme parks in California which had intensified an ongoing debate over vaccinations and the effects of a decline in vaccination rates:

More >> Pediatrician Mike Ginsberg's Facebook Vaccine Rant

A Child's Right to Be Vaccinated

Hi. My name is Paul Offit. I'm talking to you today from the Vaccine Education Center here at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

More >> A Child's Right to Be Vaccinated

Social Services Minister Christian Porter slaps down anti-vaccination campaigners

SOCIAL Services Minister Christian Porter has slapped down anti-vaxxers claiming to have found a loophole in the tough “no jab, no pay” laws.

More >> Social Services Minister Christian Porter slaps down anti-vaccination campaigners