My baby just turned 1, and we celebrated Tuesday with her first MMR vaccine. As she wailed in outrage, I nearly cried tears of joy. Watching measles make headlines while she remained unprotected was pretty scary, particularly when a case — in an unvaccinated child who had traveled overseas — was confirmed up in my area a couple of weeks ago.
So three First Opinions this week felt particularly timely to me personally. First, family physician Jonathan Temte wrote about being part of the group that declared the U.S. measles-free in March 2000: "I write on this anniversary to bear witness to the recent but potentially fleeting miracle of elimination."
Second, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean — who was a practicing physician before entering politics — wrote that people with fears about vaccines must be treated with compassion, not sanctimony: "It's normal for people to have reservations about medical procedures, including vaccination. And they shouldn't be shamed for asking questions. To be sure, some Americans aren't interested in the actual facts — but a much larger number sincerely want the truth."
Finally, I published an essay by former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and Benjamin Rader and John S. Brownstein, both of Boston Children's Hospital, adapted from their recent JAMA Viewpoint. They argue that given the Texas/New Mexico measles outbreak and decreased vaccination rates, the U.S. should update MMR guidelines for infants between 6 and 12 months.
But the pro-vaccine message was perhaps phrased best at this week's STAT Breakthrough Summit East in New York. Bill Nye the Science Guy said, "I went to elementary school with a guy who had polio. You don't want polio. Polio, bad!"
As always, let me know if you have ideas for First Opinion.
Recommendation of the week: I've been listening to a three-part series from the NPR podcast "Embedded" by a journalist whose father has fallen down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole. It's compelling and human and depressing and fascinating.
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