This story was so, so heartbreaking. What a tragedy, what pathos. The author is a beautiful writer, but the tragedy is the child, and there are others with mothers without this gift which is the haunting part.

I think people forget that when Europeans came to the new world, they brought measles, smallpox and influenza and there was no immunity by the population who had not seen these diseases. Without vaccines, literally 80-95% of the population died. Natural immunity does not work. In Europe at the time, virtually everyone got smallpox and ~30% died. Many died of measles.

How anyone would prefer that life to shot is a mystery. Yes, vaccines aren't 100% foolproof. But they are >99.9% foolproof. In a world with so much awfulness, I worship the ground vaccine inventors walk on. They are our saviors. They make it so when we have children, we expect them to grow into adults. That is a privilege humans have only enjoyed in the 20th and 21st centuries in rich countries. It is humbling to consider.

Oh, and today it was reported that an mRNA vaccine keeps people with the most deadly form of a cancer, pancreatic cancer, alive:
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/pancreatic-cancer-mrna-vaccine-shows-lasting-results-early-trial-rcna331969

A rare bit of truly good news.

I’m a physician and I was living in London at the same time as the author. My son was born in 2012 and because of the prevalence of measles in the uk and europe, and because we were planning to visit Eastern Europe, I asked our ped to vaccinate him at 5 months.

Since we were expats with a benefits package that included private healthcare, our ped was not part of NHS. I’m not sure if NHS allows for early vaccination. We also had the kids vaccinated for chicken pox, which was not routinely given at the time, but I believe it is a routine vaccination this year.

If you have, or know anyone with children not yet old enough for MMR, let them know that they can ask their ped about early vaccination if they are concerned about exposure. The early dose does not replace any part of the regular schedule, so they will need to make sure understand how to complete the series.

Anonymous wrote:The lies they are spreading is beyond disgusting .

I just don’t understand this. People used to wait in lines to get vaccinated for smallpox and other communicable diseases.

These are all back with a vengeance due to MAGA idiots. So sad.

It’s kind of like how the same people who currently worship nazi ideology were raised by fathers who fought to end that movement in WWII.

It’s sad.

Anonymous wrote:This is the reason I offered to care for my new grandchild. The parents are physicians and they come in contact with sick people everyday.

I also see on my local Facebook page parents are looking for “vaccine friendly” pediatricians (whatever that means)?

Yes, same (about the vaccine friendly ped). I’m thankfully the pediatricians’ office we go to has signs posted saying vaccines are mandatory and you will be asked to find care at other practice if you do not vaccinate on schedule.

Anonymous wrote:I hate them so much.

There’s a family in Texas you would really hate. They had four unvaccinated kids who all got measles and all were hospitalized for serious side effects. They pulled through and the father was so proud d that they were now immune without vaccination. Talk about ignorant MAGAs.

The lies they are spreading is beyond disgusting .

I just don’t understand this. People used to wait in lines to get vaccinated for smallpox and other communicable diseases.

These are all back with a vengeance due to MAGA idiots. So sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate them so much.

The article did what was intended.

My own kids are vaccinated to the max. I think if parents opt out of vaccinations, unless it’s for a medical reason, the kids should not attend public school.

That said, this is a rare complication, which was stated in the article. This and similar articles are intended for us to hate the unknown other. And it’s very successful.

The scapegoating of migrants has been a successful and horrible campaign by the current admin to make people hate the unknown other. It is reprehensible.

These people are not an unknown other. These are people who have worked tirelessly and PUBLICLY over years to undermine faith in medicine and vaccines based on BS. They imperil us all. This is not speculation. It's fact. They are killing and will kill children. They are hurting people and will cause people to face unnecessary, avoidable risks of long-term health problems.

They are batshit.

I feel no compunction in hating them because they EARNED IT. They deserve to be spurned and cast out of public spaces.

It's the adults traveling to places with measle outbreaks bringing it back. So ban the traveling adults, not kids from attending schools. Cut it off at the source.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so wrong. Why are we not criminalizing this?

Who are you going to charge? The baby was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted the measles that eventually killed her.

Our Health Secretary RFK Jr appointed by our President Trump spreads lies about vaccines on a daily basis paid for by us taxpayers.

Every single parent who refuses to vaccinate their kids, that's who. We don't need to wait until someone dies.

I don't want them treated like criminals. I don't want to be around them. I don't want them in any kind of publicly-funded schools and private schools should refuse them too. Health insurance should also deny them coverage.

This is of course REAL medical reasons to not vaccinate, which are very limited and could be documented.

If we don't force them, kids will keep dying. Or having long term problems. Too serious. Screw them.

The idea that these parents will be arrested sounds satisfying but is never happening. It would be easier to accomplish getting them out of public education settings, private schools, and no health insurance coverage. 2 out of 3 of those do not require government action.

Anonymous wrote:I hate them so much.

The article did what was intended.

My own kids are vaccinated to the max. I think if parents opt out of vaccinations, unless it’s for a medical reason, the kids should not attend public school.

That said, this is a rare complication, which was stated in the article. This and similar articles are intended for us to hate the unknown other. And it’s very successful.

Anonymous wrote:This is the reason I offered to care for my new grandchild. The parents are physicians and they come in contact with sick people everyday.

I also see on my local Facebook page parents are looking for “vaccine friendly” pediatricians (whatever that means)?

I think this means pediatricians who are willing to space out vaccines? We specifically looked for a pediatrician who would not take families who don't vaccinate. Many of the bigger practices will not take them.

I hate them so much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so wrong. Why are we not criminalizing this?

Who are you going to charge? The baby was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted the measles that eventually killed her.

Our Health Secretary RFK Jr appointed by our President Trump spreads lies about vaccines on a daily basis paid for by us taxpayers.

Every single parent who refuses to vaccinate their kids, that's who. We don't need to wait until someone dies.

I don't want them treated like criminals. I don't want to be around them. I don't want them in any kind of publicly-funded schools and private schools should refuse them too. Health insurance should also deny them coverage.

This is of course REAL medical reasons to not vaccinate, which are very limited and could be documented.

If we don't force them, kids will keep dying. Or having long term problems. Too serious. Screw them.

This is the reason I offered to care for my new grandchild. The parents are physicians and they come in contact with sick people everyday.

I also see on my local Facebook page parents are looking for “vaccine friendly” pediatricians (whatever that means)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so wrong. Why are we not criminalizing this?

Who are you going to charge? The baby was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted the measles that eventually killed her.

Our Health Secretary RFK Jr appointed by our President Trump spreads lies about vaccines on a daily basis paid for by us taxpayers.

Every single parent who refuses to vaccinate their kids, that's who. We don't need to wait until someone dies.

I wish we could force the issue, but we can't. Vaccine mandates just fan the flames of hysterical conspiracies. All the drama over covid vaccines is exactly why we now have an antivaxxer as Health Secretary. The best approach, although it is imperfect, is education, patience, and kindness. Remember, antivaxxers are trying to do the best they can for their kids. They're utterly misguided, but forcing them is NOT a solution, that just leads to more resentment.

I don't think we need to be kind or force them. Just shun them, like I said. You don't get to be with us and good luck with your plans!