Anna Dragsbaek on Measles

The scientific evidence is strong--vaccines save lives and prevent dangerous diseases like measles.  But perhaps the most poignant lesson is that good science alone is not always enough. Laws and policies matter a lot. As the US experiences a significant measles outbreak, one lesson is clear: science and policy go hand-in-hand. In order to fully realize the power of vaccines, we also need strong laws and policies to support high immunization rates.  The current measles outbreak is reigniting the discussion about mandatory immunizations versus freedom to choose and is playing out differently in each state.   California, where the outbreak originated, has a moderately difficult vaccine exemption policy. Parents can opt out of vaccines based on their beliefs. As one of only 20 states that allow non-medical or ‘philosophical’ exemptions, California is now rethinking that policy. In contrast, Mississippi is only one of 2 states (West Virginia being the other) that only accept a medical reason for not vaccinating. As such, Mississippi boasts the highest measles vaccination rate in the country. However, Mississippi recently faced a critical situation. A legislative proposal was filed which would allow non-medical exemptions. Fortunately the existing legislation was upheld and no changes were made to their exemptions’ policy. Many times we propose policies in their perfect form and must then find a compromise that allows for the political realities. This was the case in Col...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news