An Arizona lawmaker decries mandatory vaccinations tantamount to communism — an assertion that experts call a 'false argument' that dangerously undermines efforts to control measles outbreaks.
, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cases span 10 states, including four that are experiencing outbreaks: New York, Washington, Texas and Illinois.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Townsend said her post has been misconstrued. She said she is not anti-vaccine, adding that she fully vaccinated her oldest child, but stopped giving her children vaccines because she believes her middle child, who has Asperger's and seizures, was injured from a shot at 11 months old.
Townsend said she believes people should be able to choose whether to vaccinate their children rather than be required to do so. She also said more research should be done on the safety of vaccines, a common refrain among anti-vaccine activists. Dr. Albert Wu, a professor of health policy management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a practicing physician, called Townsend's post"unfortunate," especially at a time when it's critical to educate the public.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Republican legislator calls mandatory vaccinations 'communist' amid measles outbreaks across country'I can only continue to push that my point is fundamentally about whether or not the government can force you to take an injection,' in the midst of measles outbreaks.
Read more »
Measles outbreaks: Lawmakers tackle vaccine misinformation conspiraciesAs cases of measles continue to rise across the U.S., lawmakers met Wednesday to confront the growing public health threat.
Read more »
Audience at measles outbreak hearing yell at speakers over vaccine safetyWATCH: Lawmakers met to confront the growing measles outbreak in a hearing held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Audience members, both for and against immunization, shouted down speakers over vaccine safety.
Read more »
GOP Arizona Lawmaker Claims Vaccinations Are 'Communist'As cases of measles continue to rise across the United States, public healthadvocates have cast a critical eye on state policies that make it easy forparents to avoid vaccinating their children
Read more »
Texas lawmaker says he's not worried about measles outbreak because of ‘antibiotics'Texas state representative Bill Zedler is promoting legislation that would allow Texans to opt out of childhood vaccinations.
Read more »
Arizona lawmakers are pushing vaccine exemption billsArizona lawmakers voted last week to advance three bills that would make it easier to get exemptions from the state's vaccine requirements, and which would require doctors to provide much more information to patients and families about potential harms that vaccines pose.
Read more »
Amid measles outbreak, Washington health secretary sounds alarm on spread of preventable diseasesWith measles outbreaks in multiple states and growing backlash against the anti-vaccination movement, Washington Health Secretary John Wiesman urged lawmakers and concerned Americans to take action.
Read more »
Measles outbreak spreads in New York City's Orthodox Jewish community, city health department saysMeasles outbreak in New York City's Orthodox Jewish community is continuing to spread, with nearly two dozen new cases linked to a single yeshiva, health officials say.
Read more »