Mandel Clarifies MMR Stance
Mandel Clarifies Stance on MMR Vaccination
It is beyond dispute that immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other single health measure has.
Being vaccinated is the best way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella, which are serious and in a number of cases fatal diseases. And beneficially, once a child is immunized they help to protect other children as well.
The triple-jab, three-in-1-needle, combined MMR vaccine was developed to expedite the immunization schedule of children.
The MMR vaccine is given to children as a series of 2 doses. The first dose is given at 12 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. And, if a child also needs protection against chickenpox (varicella), the 2nd dose of vaccine is given as the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
The leader of the Alberta Party, Stephen Mandel, issued a press release stating that childhood vaccinations must be mandatory.
While there is no dispute that vaccinating a child is life-saving, a controversy arose concerning the use of the combined MMR vaccine to do so.
Some interpreted Mr. Mandel as suggesting that he would make the combined MMR vaccine compulsory, which was not his intention.
Stephen Mandel has since stated that while he wants every child immunized, mothers are free to choose either the three separate injections or the combined MMR vaccine. ‘The important thing is that every child is immunized, how they do it should be the mother’s choice,’ Stephen Mandel replied when questioned by this author.
Jonathan Dai, Alberta Party candidate for the riding Edmonton-Whitemud, noted after conferring with those concerned with costs to the AHS, stated, ‘I understand that giving the three individual vaccines may cost twice as much as the combined MMR vaccine, but to relieve the stress and anxiety that many mothers have about the combined vaccine, I believe it is worth it’.
‘I also understand,’ Dai stated, ‘that in some countries parents wishing the three injections have to pay, while in others health authorities foot the bill.’
However, Dai admitted the MMR scare has certainly left its mark. ‘And, as vaccination rates fall, there will be measles outbreaks which no one wants. If more mothers will immunize their children properly, a slight increase in the cost of saving lives is in all our best interests to bear.’
Being vaccinated is the best way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella, which are serious and in a number of cases fatal diseases. And beneficially, once a child is immunized they help to protect other children as well.
The triple-jab, three-in-1-needle, combined MMR vaccine was developed to expedite the immunization schedule of children.
The MMR vaccine is given to children as a series of 2 doses. The first dose is given at 12 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. And, if a child also needs protection against chickenpox (varicella), the 2nd dose of vaccine is given as the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
The leader of the Alberta Party, Stephen Mandel, issued a press release stating that childhood vaccinations must be mandatory.
While there is no dispute that vaccinating a child is life-saving, a controversy arose concerning the use of the combined MMR vaccine to do so.
Some interpreted Mr. Mandel as suggesting that he would make the combined MMR vaccine compulsory, which was not his intention.
Stephen Mandel has since stated that while he wants every child immunized, mothers are free to choose either the three separate injections or the combined MMR vaccine. ‘The important thing is that every child is immunized, how they do it should be the mother’s choice,’ Stephen Mandel replied when questioned by this author.
Jonathan Dai, Alberta Party candidate for the riding Edmonton-Whitemud, noted after conferring with those concerned with costs to the AHS, stated, ‘I understand that giving the three individual vaccines may cost twice as much as the combined MMR vaccine, but to relieve the stress and anxiety that many mothers have about the combined vaccine, I believe it is worth it’.
‘I also understand,’ Dai stated, ‘that in some countries parents wishing the three injections have to pay, while in others health authorities foot the bill.’
However, Dai admitted the MMR scare has certainly left its mark. ‘And, as vaccination rates fall, there will be measles outbreaks which no one wants. If more mothers will immunize their children properly, a slight increase in the cost of saving lives is in all our best interests to bear.’