Results: The Vaccination Debate

Measles, a highly contagious disease that was considered eliminated in 2000, is making a comeback. Outbreaks have been reported this year in New York, Texas, and Washington State, as well as in Canada and overseas. The underlying reason for this appears to be fear and misinformation about vaccination, much of it spread through social media. Most measles cases occur among unvaccinated individuals, despite the existence of a highly effective vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one dose of measles vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing the disease, and two doses are 97 percent effective in people exposed to the virus. Yet the anti-vaccination debate rages on. What side of the debate are you on?

A pair of state lawmakers are pushing a measure to allow some New York minors to decide to be vaccinated against their parents' wishes. Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, said Friday they will soon introduce a bill that would let those 14 and older to receive an immunization without parental consent. The bill was inspired by the testimony of Ethan Lindenberger, an 18-year-old from Ohio who spoke to Congress last week about his decision to be immunized even though his mother opposed it. It comes as New York continues to deal with a measles outbreak in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley, including Rockland County, which has had at least 144 confirmed cases since October, many in the county's Orthodox Jewish communities. Children in New York are required to be immunized for measles, poliomyelitis, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, HiB, hepatitis B and varicella. But the state allows exemptions for those with religious beliefs against immunizations or if a physician certifies it could damage a child's health because of some other conflicting condition. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for closing the religious exemptions, arguing that high vaccination rates are critical to ensure children avoid getting sick. Do you agree with either of these two statements?

Here is some misinformation that anti-vaxxers are spreading about vaccines (all of which has been scientifically refuted) -- some even in major billboard campaigns recently. Do you believe any of these are true?