The rise in anti-vaccination information has led to a surge in unvaccinated people in the U.S. despite the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s efforts over the last 15 years to ensure immunization safety.

“My beliefs shifted shortly after I was in practice, when I witnessed several parents who had children who were injured by vaccines,” said Dr. Joe Democko of Democko Chiropractic in Goldsborough, North Carolina. 

Democko is not one to tell others what to do when it comes to vaccinating children. However, his own immunization views have changed.

“One child was a normal, potty-trained 3-year-old who was speaking, communicating, whatnot. [They] went in for their vaccination [and] that night spiked a fever. The next day, [they] couldn’t hold any bowel movements or anything and became completely non-verbal, and are that way to this day,” Democko said. 

 Democko also told of a fellow physician with a child who followed the same pattern, resulting in speech change, muscle paralysis and other complications after receiving immunizations.

 Anti-vaccination groups point to vaccination-induced autism, sickness and death among children as reasons to forgo shots, leaving angry parents demanding answers and others afraid to vaccinate for fear of injury.

According to the CDC, the number of measles cases so far this year has increased by 20%, the total number skyrocketing to 465 confirmed cases around the U.S. 

New York City is still battling an outbreak that started last fall with 259 confirmed cases in the Brooklyn and Queens areas, many within the Orthodox Jewish Community.

Seven cases of confirmed measles were found in Monroe County this past February. An unvaccinated toddler brought it home after traveling abroad to the Ukraine.

Right now, parents in New York state can cite religious or medical reasons for opting out of scheduled vaccinations for school admittance. With the recent measles outbreak, this could change.

Bill Magnarelli, assemblyman for the 129th Assembly District, has co-sponsored a bill eliminating religious exemptions for students. Aside from medical reasons, passage of this bill would create mandatory vaccination for all students. 

Admittance to New York schools require adherence to the state public health laws. All students enrolled in six or more credit hours at colleges or universities fall under the same rules.

“So long as everything is in line with the public health law, students can be admitted,” said Angela Brown, director of Mary Walker Health Center at Oswego State. 

Despite outbreaks around the country, the anti-vax movement is growing. The Pacific Northwest, Texas and parts of the Midwest are emerging as some of its most dominant players inside and outside of politics.

Many online anti-vax groups have taken a twisted turn, using social media outlets to engage in bullying, harassment and threats.

Last month, Washington state passed a bill banning philosophical vaccine exemptions. Critics opposing the bill say parents should have the right to choose vaccinating their children. 

The bill’s passage comes amid 53 confirmed cases of measles near the Portland, Oregon, area. Lawmakers point to community safety as a reason for this type of measure. Anti-vaccination activists disagree, as hundreds flocked the capital in protest. 

Another bill has been introduced to the New York Legislature that would allow teens 14 and older to receive immunizations without parental consent. The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy.

 Inspiration for the bill came from the testimony of 18-year-old Ethan Lindenberger.  Lindenberger spoke before Congress concerning his decision to become immunized despite his mother’s objections. She had always believed vaccines to be dangerous and remains steadfast in her beliefs despite her son’s testimony.

Jiancheng Huang, director of Oswego County Public Health, said one of the biggest misconceptions about vaccines is disease causation. 

“Actually, [the] first thing you need to realize [is] vaccine goes through rigorous FDA scrutiny before they bring it to market,” Huang said. “Vaccine is so effective and is so successful, it eliminated [the] most devastating diseases. And now, young parents, they never saw these diseases, so they feel vaccine is unnecessary. This young generation, they never, never saw this kind of disease.”

When the vaccination topic does arise, Democko gives his patients a slight word of caution.

 “I always tell my patients, if you’re going to vaccinate, slow the process down,” Democko said. “Your child does not need five or seven vaccinations in one sitting. They’re little 20-pound people. They cannot take that barrage to their systems.”

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian