Editorial: Let's not put kids at risk

FILE

Why does it take the outbreak of a serious disease to remind parents to immunise?

Measles has made headlines in the past week after a group of Hamilton schools confirmed cases. By late last week there were more than 80 confirmed cases in the community.

Health officials say it could be just a matter of time until Rotorua sees its own new cases.

There are two main reasons parents don't immunise their kids: 1) They don't get around to it or forget; 2) They decide not to.

Those parents need to 1) Get around to it now, or 2) Do some proper research.

Parents, of course, have a right not to get their children vaccinated, but when it's putting other people's children at risk you have to start asking questions.

Unimmunised children can increase the spread of measles by getting it themselves and passing it to others.

Earlier this year, public health experts blamed anti-vaccine campaigners and conspiracy theorists for the spread of measles, saying it could have been eradicated by now if it weren't for their myths.

Many of these myths centre on a discredited study by disgraced British doctor Andrew Wakefield which posited a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. The fraud has since been referred to as the most damaging medical hoax of the past 100 years, and has been linked to epidemics and deaths.

Just yesterday a new study on childhood vaccines determined that immunisations do not lead to autism.

The report, published in the journal Pediatrics, also found serious reactions are rare among children.

Is this enough to change any minds? Let's hope so.

Who are the scaremongers still pushing their dangerous barrow, whose distrust of the public health system is such they'd put their children and others' at risk?