Parents who don't vaccinate kids face jail

[Guest guest]

-

" Ken " <shining

Thursday, February 14, 2002 6:56 PM

Parents who don't vaccinate kids face jail

 

 

> Thursday, 14 February, 2002, 18:44 GMT

> Jail threat for MMR refusniks

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1820000/1820928.stm

>

> Most children are now vaccinated in Washington DC

>

> A US city has introduced an initiative to force parents to vaccinate their

> children with the controversial MMR vaccine or go to jail.

> Children in Washington DC who have not been vaccinated are barred from

> attending school, while their parents face a fine or a short jail

sentence.

>

> The get-tough policy has led to very high uptake levels of the vaccine,

> which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

>

> All but a few hundred children are not up to date.

>

> In stark contrast, continuing public fears about the safety of MMR have

seen

> immunisation rates dip sharply in the UK - leading to concerns about a

> re-emergence of disease.

>

> The vaccine has been linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel

> disorders. However, the medical establishment is adamant that it is safe.

>

> Support

>

>

> Dr Michael Richardson defended his tough policy

>

> Deborah Holmes, head teacher at Jefferson Junior High School, supports the

> scheme.

>

> She said: " If it comes down to deciding which is more important, the

> education or the health, I think it is both, and I think the system has

made

> that clear. "

>

> The architect of the initiative Dr Michael Richardson, of Washington DC

> Department of Health, said a tough stand was necessary to protect the

local

> population.

>

> He said: " The people who have got measles here have either been

unvaccinated

> or incompletely vaccinated, and I think it is going to be true also in

> Britain.

>

> " You are going to find people who have a preventable disease, and who

become

> hospitalised from a preventable disease, and that is unfortunate. "

[Guest guest]

What about if they homeschooled? Would this make a difference?

 

Erin