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Irish Times (www.ireland.com)
(01/13/03) P. 3; Houston, Muiris
Ireland's Western Health Board is urging
parents to get their children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine against measles,
mumps and rubella, after an outbreak of measles infected 10 children in the
Athenry area of County Galway. The coverage rate for the MMR vaccine is falling
in the region, and is only 74 percent--which is significantly lower than the 95
percent immunization rate required to prevent outbreaks, according to the
Western Health Board. Nationwide, the rate of MMR coverage has dropped as well,
with the Eastern Regional Health Authority reporting that the uptake for
two-year-olds in 2001 declined by 21 percent. To counter this trend, the
authority suggested measures including appointing a specialist to deal with
immunizations in the region; providing general practioners with lists of
children needing vaccinations; targeting areas of low immunizations; and
training of staff who watch for outbreaks; and creating back-to-school campaigns
promoting the benefits of immunization for children.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"