NJ Assemblyman Concerned About Christie's Comments Regarding Vaccinations

By Dom Giordano

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- While in the United Kingdom, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that parents should have some choice about whether to vaccinate their children.

New Jersey Assemblyman Dr. Herb Conaway(D) told WPHT midday host Dom Giordano that he was "concerned that the chief public health officer for the state of New Jersey seems equivocated on an important issue such as vaccinations."

"Parents are right to ask questions and be concerned and it's for medical professionals, public health officials and the like to say, 'I understand your fears, but here is what the overwhelming evidence supports."

While he points out the achievements that have been made with vaccines such as the elimination of Small Pox, the almost elimination of Polio, declaration of a Measles free United States in 2000, but he has also seen a regression recently due to "parental rights" movements.

"Unfortunately, what we have seen are a number of efforts by people to advance parental rights-- a generally important concept, but the advancement of those rights whereby people could simply prevent their children from receiving life saving vaccinations have lead to an increase in numbers of unvaccinated people in our communities."

According to Conaway, the unvaccinated are not just those that chose not to do it, but also the people that can not have vaccinations due to medical reasons such as having HIV, certain allergies that can be dangerous when combined with a vaccine or it's ingredients, being pregnant, on chronic steroids, or somebody that is recovering from a viral illness already.

"The unvaccinated person creates risk for himself, herself, but also for others. I believe strongly that those of us in charge with securing the public health need to speak with one voice in support of the best science.

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• Chris Christie