An anti-vaxxer mum is refusing to vaccinate her children, relying instead on the protection of Jesus.
A worrying number of measles cases have been reported recently, with the highest numbers in a decade reported in Europe, people suffering in multiple states across the US, and deadly outbreaks declared in the Philippines and Madagascar.
While vaccinations provide such a simple prevention against measles and many other diseases, some parents are still rejecting the medical help.
At the start of the year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) named anti-vaxxers as one of the biggest threats to global health, and yesterday (February 7), they reported 72 children and adults in the European Region were killed by measles in 2018.
Although more children in the WHO European Region are being vaccinated against measles than ever before, progress has been unevenly spread across areas, meaning certain clusters of individuals go unprotected.
Speaking about the findings, Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab explained:
The picture for 2018 makes it clear that the current pace of progress in raising immunization rates will be insufficient to stop measles circulation.
While data indicate exceptionally high immunization coverage at regional level, they also reflect a record number affected and killed by the disease. This means that gaps at local level still offer an open door to the virus.
We cannot achieve healthier populations globally, as promised in WHO’s vision for the coming five years, if we do not work locally. We must do more and do it better to protect each and every person from diseases that can be easily avoided.
I’m sure there are a number of Christians out there who have suffered from measles in spite of their beliefs, but still this particular mother is adamantly against vaccinating her five children, despite the fact her choice is literally risking their lives.
The unnamed mother spoke about her choice on Facebook, writing:
I have five children and they will never be vaccinated. They are protected by Jesus for I know faith helps you walk the righteous path.
The same people that tell me to vaccinate are the same people telling me that god did not masterfully craft this planet.
Her post was met with a lot of backlash, with one brutal response arguing a ‘rusty nail’, similar to the one Jesus was attached to the cross with, could be the downfall of her children – presumably because of their lack of tetanus vaccinations.
It’s a harsh way of putting it, but their point is technically true.
Don’t miss out on vaccinating against preventable diseases; it’s such a simple solution.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.