5/31/2019 0 Comments Anonymous.As the measles debate wears on, we’re hearing a lot about the “spread of misinformation” in relationship to vaccines. Typically, this term is used to describe the efforts of vaccine safety advocates to expose the truth about vaccines to the public, but with the current backlash and push for mandatory vaccination, we’re seeing a new level of misinformation in the press that warrants the attention of every American.
The truth is, it’s easy to accept what we see in print without taking the time to really consider what it’s saying…and whether it’s true. At a time when the nation is more divided than ever, it’s vitally important that we check the facts before accepting what we read in the media…and while it’s easier than ever to spread misinformation by simply hitting “share,” the internet has also made it easier than ever to quickly do a fact check and research claims for yourself. This is especially important when it comes to situations like the one unfolding in New York. The state has reacted by placing the blame on one population in particular when it comes the spread of measles: The Orthodox Jewish community. Major media outlets have been feverishly publishing titles like the Washington Post’s recent “New York City vaccination order shines spotlight on insular Jewish community”. The claims made by the media and government officials have circulated throughout the country...but are they correct? The state claims that poor vaccination rates in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods are to blame for the “epidemic” of measles that’s going on in New York. They’ve targeted these neighborhoods, forcing mandatory vaccination on thousands under the threat of court charges and fines, and officials have shut down Yeshivas (Orthodox Jewish schools) over immunization records. Six thousand children who attended 60 mostly Jewish schools and child care centers have been unable to attend class, and articles are circulating throughout the nation about the measles epidemic being started by Orthodox Jews returning from visiting Israel…where measles has been active. “I think it just opened up the door for everybody to say whatever they wanted to say,” said Steve Gold (chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council) in an interview with The New York Times. “And they’re putting, the way it looks right now, 100 percent blame on the Orthodox community.” Why is New York blaming its Orthodox Jews for spreading the measles? Do Orthodox Jews actually vaccinate their children less than other people, for religious reasons…as is being implied by the media? The answer is a solid “No,” and in fact, there is evidence to the contrary. A peer-reviewed study was conducted that proved that Orthodox Jewish communities vaccinate their children at the same rate as other communities, and came to the following conclusion: “For all immunizations, uptake in the strictly Orthodox Jewish community is not significantly different from that of the District. Responding parents had positive attitudes to the value and safety of immunizations but wished better access to services. Health professionals need to question their perceptions so that efforts to improve uptake amongst ethnic minority groups are based on facts and are responsive to identified needs.” What about the outbreaks in Israel, which is where New York’s “epidemic” was supposed to have originated? It turns out that Israel actually has a very high vaccination rate for the MMR (and other vaccines). In fact, Jerusalem has a 96.5% rate, and rates in Israel range from 94% at the lowest to over 98%.
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Janice Culley
Writer, program developer, trainer, and practiced in various healing modalities Archives
June 2019
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