As a religious person and as a strong believer in the power of medicine to save and improve our lives, I find your mocking of religious people with the “invisible sky fairy” comment quite offensive. The vast majority of Christians, and I would assume people who are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu as well, are supporters of vaccinations. Many people of faith have worked to research and develop the vaccines that you and your family have had. Many people of faith have traveled all over the world, including to countries where health care is sorely lacking, to vaccinate people against diseases. Your language is divisive rather than uniting. All of us (religious and non) who believe that science can improve our lives need to be in this together, not insulting one another.
Am posting the snopes version of this reported facebook post by a Dr. Ginsberg, as its unclear if he really posted it or not. Regardless, I wholly support the post and hope he is adhering to this in his practice. http://www.snopes.com/info/news/ginsberg.asp
Here’s what Dr. Ginsberg reportedly posted (sorry couldn’t copy/paste in previous post as was on ipad)
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/autism-speaks-urges-parents-vaccinate-children/story?id=28751485
"Rob Ring, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, released a statement today stressing that vaccines do not cause autism, and parents should vaccinate.
“Over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism,” he said in the statement. “The results of this research are clear: Vaccines do not cause autism. We urge that all children be fully vaccinated.” "
Wonder if this will change the minds of anyone afraid of autism. Probably not but I am glad the organization made a statement.
In the Palatine outbreak, it appears to be mainly confined to the “baby room” - kids too young to receive the MMR vaccine. The local hospital ER was contaminated as active measles patients presented themselves at the ER!
We live in a neighboring suburb and both our kids went to a nearby Kindercare for years. I remember they were very strict about keeping up on shots. Someone from corporate, a district supervisor or nurse, would come in every so often (it seemed like quarterly) and check all the vaccination records. If you were out of compliance, you had a very short period of time to get into compliance or out you went.
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/544/article/p2p-82734208/
We are being way too theoretical on religeous belief exemption. It probably affects a tiny segment of population. It may be much simpler to allow it than be contentious. BTW, I never heard of a measles outbreak in amish country. They may know how to cope with it.
The largest U.S. outbreak of measles (in recent times) was among the Amish in Ohio. 383 people became ill with the measles:
https://www.yahoo.com/health/disneyland-measles-outbreak-isnt-largest-in-110164821372.html
There was a large outbreak of measles among an Amish community in Ohio, (341 confirmed cases and a number of hospitalizations), last spring.
I think it didn’t get anywhere near the press this one has gotten because it was fairly self-contained.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/06/24/323702892/measles-outbreak-in-ohio-leads-amish-to-reconsider-vaccines
Considering few people was vaccinated, it is still amazing there weren’t more outbreaks in amish communities. Besides, if the outbreak is as self-contained as amish case, it doesn’t hurt to let them decide instead of removing religious exemption.
Actually, during the Amish outbreak, many Amish people DID get vaccinated. This outbreak convinced many of the Amish to get vaccinated:
Kaufman is one of the Amish adults who had all six of her children vaccinated once the outbreak started. So actually, vaccination is what prevented the epidemic from becoming more wide-spread - it wasn’t some special Amish magic.
Hope this isn’t too OT, but this got me thinking. I work with a children’s theatre group and we hold summer camp workshops. Do you think things will get to the level where we should request vaccination records of our students? I would say 99% of these kids go to public schools anyway, so they probably all are vaxxed, but the thought of being liable for anything is keeping me up at night 
Good! Many of Orange County may be doing the same. No need to mandate.
Sigh, the difference is that the Amish are self-contained from a lifestyle perspective so their “mistake” doesn’t spread to other people. That’s not the same thing with the Marin County folks. Huge difference.
“As a religious person and as a strong believer in the power of medicine to save and improve our lives, I find your mocking of religious people with the “invisible sky fairy” comment quite offensive. The vast majority of Christians, and I would assume people who are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu as well, are supporters of vaccinations. Many people of faith have worked to research and develop the vaccines that you and your family have had. Many people of faith have traveled all over the world, including to countries where health care is sorely lacking, to vaccinate people against diseases. Your language is divisive rather than uniting. All of us (religious and non) who believe that science can improve our lives need to be in this together, not insulting one another.”
I agree. That is a powerful commentary, @Marsian. I see absolutely no purpose in demeaning and marginalizing people of faith. We ARE all in this together, and being divisive makes people defensive.
@surfcity, I wouldn’t count on vaccinations for public school kids being automatic. Most of our Seattle area schools are below 90% and some are below 50%. You may be able to search-engine the info for your local schools.
^^^^ Well said. Part of what makes this issue so interesting is that the two predominant groups of non-vaxers are often so diametrically opposed in just about every other aspect of their lives.
And as for saying the religious don’t ‘believe’ in since…well…that is often just plain bunk. One can acknowledge the truth of science and still have a belief system which prevents one from participating in certain areas such IVF, birth control, blood transfusions. I can know with complete certainty that Science is right when states exposure to UV rays leads to an increase in skin cancer…and STILL go to the tanning booth, I just happened to accept the consequences.
@surfcity If it were me, I’d require vaccination records from the theater group kids. You might want to send out a notice now, so that there’s plenty of time for compliance, or if there are any questions or issues, you can deal with them.
I doubt that there would be a liability issue for you, but a measles outbreak among the kids is just something you don’t want to have. Plus, IMO it’s a good thing to be part of the “vaccinate or we won’t deal with you” movement. In the end, that may be the best way to send the message to these anti-vax parents. If they start running into roadblocks, they may decide to get their snowflakes vaccinated after all.
In California, about a quarter of those who have filed vaccine exemptions say they aren’t vaccinating for religious reasons. But also, in California, homeschoolers are not required to vaccinate or file exemptions, and I’m sorry to say that non-vaccination is popular among homeschoolers. Homeschooling, like anti-vaccination, is an issue that unites the left and the right.
Fang, those are exactly the parents who might be moved to vaccinate if people like @surfcity start turning away unvaccinated children. Thus far, these parents and their kids have suffered no consequences for their ridiculous decision. But if they start being evicted from doctors’ practices, or schools, or theater summer camp, maybe some of them will re-think things.