The anti-vaxxers never stopped to consider childcare for their sick children. If they work outside their home, someone has to stay home for a week or more while their child recovers. If compassion for their children won't motivate them to vaccinate their children, maybe loss of wages and possible job loss will.
Unfortunately they're far more likely to send them to school or daycare despite being ordered not to.
After all, it was an infringement on their rights to ask them to wear a mask during a pandemic and they've sued schools for violating their rights by requiring vaccination.
Thank you for caring and taking the time to research and write this. As a public health nurse, may I also suggest County Health Departments as a place to receive vaccines. ALL ARE WELCOME! Immunizations are free for Medicaid recipients and those who are uninsured or underinsured!
The people that really irritate me are those who refuse to get vaccinated with the argument "my body, my choice", as if that were even a reasonable comparison. Some have quit jobs rather than submit to required vaccination. Now that's stubborn and selfish! Yet they don't have a problem getting their kids vaccinated. I don't understand!
I can't tell you how many times during the initial wildfire spread of COVID-19 I tried to explain to people (usually on the internet) that the choice they were making didn't affect only them.
1. I highly recommend the Your Local Epidemiologist substack for more statistical, evidence-based, fact-based posts about epidemics and pandemics like you are doing. She was a real help at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (which is *not* over, mind Biden's words). Her substack is here: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com
2. As someone who is on the autistic spectrum, I find the idea of not vaccinating one's kids because of a fear they may acquire autism to be:
A. absurd,
B. illogical,
C. cruel, and
D. ableist.
It really says something about someone when they'd rather die of a preventable and debilitating disease than being different than other people somehow (which should be accepted and not marginalized!).
3. Yay New York State and New York City! I'm proud to be a New Yorker (but I still think all of the land of the US should be returned to the people from whom the land was stolen, i.e. indigenous people like you)!
Regarding #2, I told someone recently "How awful do you have to be to prefer a dead child to an autistic child? I was unaware my existence was so abhorrent."
They backpedaled so fast, I think they slowed the Earth's rotation.
As a retired pediatrician who practiced for 40 years, I can attest that measles is dangerous and deadly. Not only is it super contagious, as you point out, the fever precedes the rash by 3 days (i.e rash develops on day 4), so there is plenty of time for an infected person to spread the virus before being diagnosed. Expect the numbers to double every week or so, so this will be a widespread public health (and economic) disaster. Parents - PLEASE get your kids vaccinated. The vaccine is safe and effective.
Thank you Auntie for your beautifully written and extremely important information. It is appalling that so many people are willing to put their neighbours and communities at risk. Again, thank you.
I am one of those people vaccinated between 1957 and 1968. I happened to have had a titer recently so I reached out to my physician to see if I had immunity. I did not, so I got an MMR vaccine. Had I not had the titer, I would have just gotten an MMR vaccine as, it is my understanding, that there is no downside to this. Thank you for spreading education, rather than spreading measles.
The anti-vaxxers never stopped to consider childcare for their sick children. If they work outside their home, someone has to stay home for a week or more while their child recovers. If compassion for their children won't motivate them to vaccinate their children, maybe loss of wages and possible job loss will.
Unfortunately they're far more likely to send them to school or daycare despite being ordered not to.
After all, it was an infringement on their rights to ask them to wear a mask during a pandemic and they've sued schools for violating their rights by requiring vaccination.
Thank you for a well researched and written essay on this preventable disaster! I hope your words can inspire your community, as you inspire me
with your wisdom and leadership.
Thank you for caring and taking the time to research and write this. As a public health nurse, may I also suggest County Health Departments as a place to receive vaccines. ALL ARE WELCOME! Immunizations are free for Medicaid recipients and those who are uninsured or underinsured!
Information added to the piece. Philámayaye, Niawen'kó:wa, Merci, Thank you for the heads up!
The people that really irritate me are those who refuse to get vaccinated with the argument "my body, my choice", as if that were even a reasonable comparison. Some have quit jobs rather than submit to required vaccination. Now that's stubborn and selfish! Yet they don't have a problem getting their kids vaccinated. I don't understand!
I can't tell you how many times during the initial wildfire spread of COVID-19 I tried to explain to people (usually on the internet) that the choice they were making didn't affect only them.
Ditto!
I have a few thoughts on your post.
1. I highly recommend the Your Local Epidemiologist substack for more statistical, evidence-based, fact-based posts about epidemics and pandemics like you are doing. She was a real help at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (which is *not* over, mind Biden's words). Her substack is here: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com
2. As someone who is on the autistic spectrum, I find the idea of not vaccinating one's kids because of a fear they may acquire autism to be:
A. absurd,
B. illogical,
C. cruel, and
D. ableist.
It really says something about someone when they'd rather die of a preventable and debilitating disease than being different than other people somehow (which should be accepted and not marginalized!).
3. Yay New York State and New York City! I'm proud to be a New Yorker (but I still think all of the land of the US should be returned to the people from whom the land was stolen, i.e. indigenous people like you)!
Regarding #2, I told someone recently "How awful do you have to be to prefer a dead child to an autistic child? I was unaware my existence was so abhorrent."
They backpedaled so fast, I think they slowed the Earth's rotation.
Pilamayaye, Mavis!
As a retired pediatrician who practiced for 40 years, I can attest that measles is dangerous and deadly. Not only is it super contagious, as you point out, the fever precedes the rash by 3 days (i.e rash develops on day 4), so there is plenty of time for an infected person to spread the virus before being diagnosed. Expect the numbers to double every week or so, so this will be a widespread public health (and economic) disaster. Parents - PLEASE get your kids vaccinated. The vaccine is safe and effective.
Thanks for this. Will be sharing on FB.
Thank you Auntie for your beautifully written and extremely important information. It is appalling that so many people are willing to put their neighbours and communities at risk. Again, thank you.
Measles is back.
Thanks, Trump.
Sadly, tuberculosis is also making a comeback, both in America and globally. Big trouble ahead.
An Ancient Disease Has Reappeared in The US. This Could Be Why.
https://www.sciencealert.com/an-ancient-disease-has-reappeared-in-the-us-this-could-be-why
Straight talk from a wise Indigenous Auntie!
Preach!
I was born in 1960, saw that measles was on the rise. Just got my booster. Quick and easy just like the first time around!
Did JFKjr really say that cod liver oil is good for measles?? What a moron!
RFK Jr., but yes, our highly qualified head of Health and Human Services did say that as well as touting Vitamin A.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/rfk-jr-measles-outbreak-texas-cod-steroids-call-seminole-mennonite-community-hhs/
This is eminently readable and immensely helpful. Thank you.
I am one of those people vaccinated between 1957 and 1968. I happened to have had a titer recently so I reached out to my physician to see if I had immunity. I did not, so I got an MMR vaccine. Had I not had the titer, I would have just gotten an MMR vaccine as, it is my understanding, that there is no downside to this. Thank you for spreading education, rather than spreading measles.
Can I print this and post it in my local grocery store and churches?
Absolutely! With a gag order on the CDC, I highly encourage everything we can do to get information out there.