The apocryphal story is that after recanting his statement that the earth moved around the sun, Galileo looked at the officers of the Holy Inquisition and muttered under his breath, “Eppur si muove,” but yet it moves. Then it was astronomy, now pediatrics.
Yesterday, joining with other esteemed pinheads, Donald Trump signed an executive order with HHS Secretary Kennedy behind him separating the vaccines for mumps, measles, and rubella rather than having the three given as one unit since 1971. Calling this a “major victory for parents rights, religious and constitutional rights, and for the gold standard science,” the American Academy of Pediatrics decried this new approach to vaccinating children, which could result in increasing any of these three infections.
Thanks to encouraging parents not to vaccinate their children, we already have a resurgence of measles, now over 2,000 cases. Highly contagious, measles can result in encephalitis, blindness, and/or deafness. We should shudder at what might come next in this time when ideologues manage science policy.
Prayer for the Day
Searching for understanding, we come to you, O God,
For we can feel uncertain as we hear conflicting opinions;
We want certainty but it often seems to be lacking,
And we become vulnerable to shifting winds.
Becoming as ships loosened from the harbor ropes,
We flounder about closing our minds to proven truths.
In the name of the One who calls us to think,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The President does not have the expertise to make these changes.
Senator Bill Cassidy, who must regret his vote on Kennedy
Science about vaccines and their efficacy has not changed. The distribution of viruses and other pathogens in our environment has not changed. Children in this country have not changed in the last 48 hours.
Dr. Andrew Racine, President, American Academy of Pediatrics
For the Lord gives wisdom; from god’s mouth come knowledge and understanding;
God stores up sound wisdom for the upright; a shield for those who walk blamelessly,
Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of faithful ones.
Proverbs 2: 6-8