South Carolina has a measles outbreak. The Way of Truth Church in Inman is the epicenter. - Friendly Atheist

[karynnj]

4. It is so sad that people have manipulated people ill equipped to understand statistics

In one article, a man with 4 unvaccinated kids, spoke of SOME vaccinated kids getting measles and some unvaccinated kids not getting it. This ignores the vaccine is 97 percent effective and the probability of an unvaccinated person getting measles is around 90 percent if they are exposed.

For decades, the high vaccination rate meant that those choosing not to vaccinate their kids benefited because the number of active cases was so low few were ever exposed. However, in places where there were clusters of people refusing vaccination, one case would very likely set off an epidemic. The high vaccination rate also importantly protected those who could not be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Having been born in 1950, as the oldest child, I brought home all those childhood illnesses once I started school. Fortunately, we all survived without hospitalization. I was surprised to read that the percent needing hospitalization was as high as it is.

The antivax people present potential side effects of the vaccines giving them more weight than the potential danger of getting the disease even though serious side effects are far less likely than getting seriously ill from the disease.