<p>Perhaps people visiting those states may want to make sure that their own vaccinations are complete, because herd immunity is more likely to be broken in those states, so the chance of being exposed by a vaccine-preventable disease is greater. The same may be true for local areas in other states where there is a high rate of non-vaccination, such as Marin County in California. Some K-12 schools with mainly students from wealthy families (either public in wealthy areas or expensive private) also have high non-vaccination rates.</p>
<p>Someone flew from Philippines to HI & then was in many waiting rooms with the measles in HI as well. It is estimated that he infected everyone on the plane and in each of the waiting rooms where he was actively contagious. Who knows how many others may get the disease from him?</p>
<p>In HI, we get exposed to LOTS of infectious disease because our state has so many international visitors and so many of the folks in our state travel internationally to visit relatives (and be visited by relatives). We also have a lot of immigrants and folks who come to our state for medical treatment from South Pacific nations (some also come seeking work).</p>
<p>Back in the 1960’s when I was in grade school they used to have mass vaccinations during school time. They would line us up and give out the shots. I don’t think our parents really had any say over it at the time, it was just something that was done.</p>
<p>In order to get a marriage license in CT, we had to get blood tests that included German measles. I got mine done in NJ, because that’s where we were living. The lab in NJ sent the results to CT without a German measles result. (Apparently NJ didn’t have that requirement.) I had them send it again, and they said I had immunity. </p>
<p>Several years later, I became pregnant. My doctor did routine blood tests which revealed that I had NOT had German measles, just the regular kind. Obviously, the lab had failed to do the test, and rather than admit it and have me come back in, they just amended the paperwork. I was working in NYC when I became pregnant, taking public transportation, walking the streets full of people from everywhere. The consequences of exposure would have been dire.This did have some effect on my decision to quit my job early.</p>
<p>I have zero sympathy with non-vaccinators, except for those who cannot do it for genuine medical reasons. If your religion prohibits vaccination, your religion is bunk. If you persist in ignoring all scientific evidence, you are a dangerous ignoramus.</p>
<p>I understand the concern parents have with vaccinations. I sought the thimerosol free vaccine for my kids a couple of years go during the h1n1 flu scare. But come hell or high water I was going to find it for them. Our public schools require these vaccinations so I don’t understand how people get around it. That said, whooping cough is seemingly becoming more common again. It is so unfortunate for people like consolation who are at a huge risk unknowingly. Back in the 1960’s it was stated you had to get the shots, and everybody agreed. The memory/ horror of those diseases were still fresh in the minds of older generations. I had a girl in my class who wore leg braces (as did Forest Gump) for polio. It was doable, but she was so restricted from activities. I think having had no real exposure to the horrors of these diseases causes people to underestimate their true risk. </p>
<p>I was lifting for something last night, above my bathroom mirror and caught sight of my old smallpox immunization scar. I thought it had disappeared years ago. Scary to think how painful that must have been to still have a scar from it. But smallpox is scarier still!</p>
<p>I remember getting the smallpox vaccination–as I recall, it didn’t hurt that much, but it wasn’t the same as other injections–instead, they poked you with a little sharp instrument and moved it around. Can that be right? My scar has disappeared, though.</p>
<p>When my 15 year old was an infant they came out with a rotovirus vaccine. I had him get it right away because my oldest had ended in the hospital with it when he was a baby . Then a year later they pulled the vaccine because a number of babies had ended up with a bowel obstruction. A rotovirus vaccine was not available again for 7 more years… So my kids are vaccinated for all the required things but I have to admit I did not have my sons get the Gardasil vaccine which they started recommending for boys a couple of years ago…</p>
<p>I would imagine that a family who takes openly about sexual activity, STDs, pregnancy, etc. to their kids as they reach sexual maturity can have a reasonably frank discussion about the HPV vaccine and its costs and benefits. A family which insists on abstinence only and does not want to discuss anything else in that realm may have a more difficult time with respect to the HPV vaccine.</p>
<p>^So far, all students at Fordham U. who have mumps had been vaccinated, as required to attend the school. Fordham sent students home and are redoubling their efforts at communal bathroom cleaning. Students also notice more hand sanitizer pumps on campus today. It spreads like a flu.</p>
<p>I had German Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox, Scarlet fever and a few other things and missed 91 days of kindergarten back in 1960. I made sure the kids had all their vacs except Chickenpox (because it didn’t exist when my kids were young) and I had them get the Hep series when they were early teens. It’s so sad to hear about all these people catching diseases that have virtually been irradiated but for compliance issues and the global back and forth.</p>
<p>I missed a lot of school in the early grades also. My kids did not, possibly because they had been exposed more than I had been, through their preschool & child care.
I had my tonsils out when I was 5, but still had recurrent strep throat.
I also am pretty sure I was innoculated for small pox, but as I was very skinny, I had to get all my shots in my butt untill I was 10 or so. :p</p>
<p>My brother had mumps, but I dont know why we ( my sister & I )didnt get it as well.
We did all have Rubella & chicken pox.
Brother also may have had whooping cough as a toddler, I was only a few years older, but vaguely remember going to a preschool when he was sick. It was great fun!</p>
<p>I did get my Tetanus booster about six years ago & since youngest has traveled in both rural India & Africa before college, she has been innoculated for the basics & then some.</p>
<p>Disease vectors are all around you
As a teacher I got my Tdap booster recently.
I’m amazed every year at the ignorance with regard vaccinations…Normal-seeming teachers will suddenly swear that they won’t vaccinate their snowflake because vaccines cause autism. No , and no.</p>