Last night we posted on how presumptive Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton emerged from her Twitter silence to declare her position on vaccines, noting how her rhetoric as a grandma is different than that of a candidate in 2008. But let’s take a closer look at what she said:
The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let's protect all our kids. #GrandmothersKnowBest
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 3, 2015
Her supporters loved it, of course, but her science is off.
The Earth is not round, and the sky is not really blue:
@HillaryClinton : The Earth is an oblate spheroid (not quite round), the sky *looks* blue because of Rayleigh scattering, and #vaccineswork.
— Will Armentrout (@WillArmentrout) February 3, 2015
.@HillaryClinton: Actually Secretary Clinton, the sky is black, but it appears blue because of light and stuff: http://t.co/q7cJTGbykD
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) February 3, 2015
Facts matter. Just like the science of the actual shape of the Earth and the color of the sky, the debate on vaccines is more complicated than what’s being discussed by any of the candidates.
For example, Mother Jones reported in 2013 that it’s not the anti-vax movement that’s the biggest problem with unvaccinated children in America … it’s access to vaccines:
https://twitter.com/drgurner/status/562395170185170945
An excerpt:
The study found that an astonishing 49 percent of toddlers born from 2004 through 2008 hadn’t had all their shots by their second birthday, but only about 2 percent had parents who refused to have them vaccinated. They were missing shots for pretty mundane reasons—parents’ work schedules, transportation problems, insurance hiccups.
This piece from the much-mocked Vox is actually worth a read on last year’s measles outbreak. Blame the Amish who traveled to the Philippines:
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https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/560795201107918848
The CDC thinks the measles epidemic that hit Disneyland started with an overseas traveler as well:
Disney measles outbreak came from overseas, according to CDC http://t.co/jeGeok0HG2
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 30, 2015
And this example from Minnesota this year:
UofM student returned from international travel and attended classes from Jan. 20-23. More info on measles here: http://t.co/d1Axt8wJgu
— Jay Knoll (@jayknoll) January 29, 2015
And Florida:
Four people with measles, two of them international travelers, have gone through Florida in the last two weeks http://t.co/d5108Y0cBv
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) January 31, 2015
So, by all means, let’s have a debate on vaccinations. But that debate must include all facets — not just the tiny anti-vax movement in the U.S. — or it’s just a bunch of political gamesmanship and hot air.
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Related:
‘The science is clear’: Grandmother Hillary Clinton breaks with 2008 Hillary Clinton on vaccines
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