WEST BRATTLEBORO — This year, Vermont had one case of confirmed measles (in Southern Vermont), after a measles-free decade, and 118 measles cases were reported nationwide as of May, many having resulted from exposure of unvaccinated visitors to places like France, where 10,000 cases were reported as of May.
This should be a wake-up call to all parents who have signed waivers to prevent vaccinating their children. Vermont and 16 other states permit parents with a religious or philosophical reason to sign a waiver not to vaccinate, yet they may enroll their unvaccinated child in school or day care.
Their “free parental choice” puts their own unvaccinated child at risk if exposed and also adds risk to other contacts, especially the unvaccinated. If a contagious person comes comes around, they are all at risk.
With today's very safe and highly effective vaccines available and encouraged, epidemics get started needlessly because even a small percent remain unvaccinated. This does not have to happen. We are all in this together and share responsibility.
School season is upon us. For the safety and health of your unvaccinated child, and the safety and protection of his contacts and the entire community, I strongly urge hesitant parents to revisit with their doctor the wisdom of their decision not to vaccinate their child.