Measles vaccination
===================

* Mark Dermer

My initial response to the *CMAJ* editorial by Giddings1 was, “Really, are we really still hoping that advocacy is going to overcome vaccine hesitancy and resistance?”

Giddings1 properly identifies complacency and misinformation as important causes of reduced rates of pediatric immunization, but mistakenly encourages physicians to try to reason with emotion. Front-line primary care workers might like the notion that we can influence immunization resistance, but research tells us we will fail.2

The lay press portrays parents who are antivaccine as caring people who carefully consider their options. Unfortunately, this is wrong: those who do not vaccinate their children not only decide for their children, but for all children who come in contact with their children. It is not their right to do so.

The Canadian medical community should stop arguing, cajoling and pleading with those who refuse to have their children vaccinated, and instead, provide leadership in establishing an ethical process for mandatory vaccination of all children.

## References

1.  Giddings G. Measles vaccination: a shot of common sense. CMAJ 2014;186:651.
    
    [FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czo5OiIxODYvOS82NTEiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyMToiL2NtYWovMTg3LzEvNTcuMS5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=) 

2.  Nyhan B, Reifler J, Richey S, et al. Effective messages in vaccine promotion: a randomized trial. Pediatrics 2014;33:e835–42.