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The Chicago Sun-
THE GRAY AREA ON VACCINES
JENNY MCCARTHY
1
I am not “anti-
2
My beautiful son, Evan, inspired this mother to question the “one size fits all” philosophy of the recommended vaccine schedule. I embarked on this quest not only for myself and my family, but for countless parents who shared my desire for knowledge that could lead to options and alternate schedules, but never to eliminate the vaccines.
3
Blatantly inaccurate blog posts about my position have been accepted as truth by the public at large as well as media outlets (legitimate and otherwise), who have taken those false stories and repeatedly turned them into headlines. What happened to critical thinking? What happened to asking questions because every child is different?
4
For my child, I asked for a schedule that would allow one shot per visit instead of the multiple shots they were and still are giving infants.
5
“Again I ask, what happened to critical thinking?”
I am passionate about important conversations on how we can improve health care for our children and generations to come. This is an extremely important discussion and I am dumbfounded that these conversations are discounted and negated because the answers are not black or white. Again I ask, what happened to critical thinking?
6
A recent column by a blogger named Nancy Colasurdo states:
Here’s how it goes in this country, like everything else—
7
Her words echo and articulate my concern with inflexible thinking. This is the real view I, Jenny McCarthy, hold. The gray one!
8
This is what I have said:
9
“People have the misconception that we want to eliminate vaccines,” I told Time magazine science editor Jeffrey Kluger in 2009. “Please understand that we are not an anti-
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10
This is what I believe:
11
I believe in the importance of a vaccine program and I believe parents have the right to choose one poke per visit. I’ve never told anyone to not vaccinate. Should a child with the flu receive six vaccines in one doctor visit? Should a child with a compromised immune system be treated the same way as a robust, healthy child? Shouldn’t a child with a family history of vaccine reactions have a different plan? Or at least the right to ask questions?
12
I will continue to say what I have always said: “One size does not fit all.” God help us all if gray is no longer an option.
AT ISSUE: SOURCES FOR DEVELOPING A CAUSE-
Why does McCarthy open her argument with the statement, “I am not ‘anti-
Do McCarthy’s references to her son add to or detract from her credibility? Does quoting Nancy Colasurdo (para. 6) strengthen her argument? Why or why not?
In what sense, if any, is this essay a refutation? If it is, what argument does it refute?
What is the “gray area” to which McCarthy refers? What is the “‘one size fits all’ philosophy” (2)? How are these two concepts central to her argument?
In paragraph 3, McCarthy asks, “What happened to critical thinking?” What does she mean here (and in paragraph 5) by critical thinking? Why does she ask this question?
What modifications in the current childhood vaccination schedule does McCarthy propose? Do you think her suggestions are reasonable? Feasible? Why or why not?