Anti-vaccine advocates appointed to Minnesota autism council after measles outbreak
Officials in Minnesota have appointed anti-vaccine advocates to a newly formed state council on autism, sparking controversy in the wake of a record measles outbreak in the state.
State senator Jim Abeler formed the MN Autism Council last fall to address issues surrounding autism, including "treatment, educational options, employment opportunities, independent living, and more." While about one in 59 children in the US are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, the rate in Minnesota is one in 42.
Though the council is not designed to take up the issue of vaccination, it has been ensnared in controversy due to the anti-vaccine sentiments it includes, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. At least two of the council's more than 30 members are skeptical of vaccine safety and oppose compulsory immunizations. One of those skeptical members, Wayne Rohde, was one of three initial people Abeler appointed to the council. Rohde was charged with helping to shape the council and with picking other members.
Related: Anti-Vaccine Movement Linked to Measles Outbreak in New York
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Anti-vaccine nonsense spurred NY's largest outbreak in decades
Health officials in New York are cautiously optimistic that they have a large measles outbreak under control after tackling the noxious anti-vaccine myths and unfounded fears that fueled the disease's spread.
Since last fall, New York has tallied 177 confirmed cases of measles, the largest outbreak the state has seen in decades. It began with infected travelers, arriving from parts of Israel and Europe where the highly contagious disease was spreading. In New York, that spread has largely been confined to ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. As measles rippled through those insular religious communities, health officials ran into members who were wary of outsiders as well as those who harbor harmful myths and fears about vaccines. This included the completely false-yet-pernicious belief that the measles vaccine causes autism.
To quash the outbreak, health officials met with rabbis and pediatricians in the community, who in turned urged community members to be vigilant and, above all, get vaccinated, according to The New York Times. "Good people, great parents were terrified," Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, founder of Darchei Noam yeshiva in Monsey in Rockland County, told the Times. Despite the fears, he insisted parents vaccinate their children. "They felt that I was asking to give their children something that would harm them."
(Score: 4, Insightful) by turgid on Tuesday January 29 2019, @09:30AM (5 children)
Flat Earth Creationists appointed to the board of NASA?
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @10:34AM (4 children)
Scott Pruitt running the EPA?
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @10:51AM (3 children)
Ajit Pai running the FCC?
(Score: 4, Funny) by SpockLogic on Tuesday January 29 2019, @12:46PM (2 children)
Malignant Narcissist elected president of United States?
Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday January 29 2019, @08:45PM (1 child)
Trump Apologist appointed Press Secretary or WH Communications Director ?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @04:38AM
rudy giuliani presidential cybersecurity advisor?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by inertnet on Tuesday January 29 2019, @12:04PM (5 children)
Autism isn't prevented by avoiding vaccination, but by getting pregnant women to go out into the sunlight: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy tied to autism risk [spectrumnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @12:22PM (4 children)
Abortion is the only surefire method for preventing autism. Likewise, post-natal abortion can potentially cure those already afflicted.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @02:14PM
Perform post natal abortions so there is a demand for workers in future generations. Remember, they're only pro-life until the child is born, after that we are all fair game :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @03:40PM (2 children)
Hah! You can't retroactively abort me! I'm here!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @08:06PM (1 child)
Have you ever met a Baptist? Tell them you're "pro-choice."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 29 2019, @09:51PM
The only thing keeping abortionists from being executed is because the pro-life ideology prohibit murder even on lesser lifeforms. Bada-Bing!