Measles-Vaccination Debate Infects US Politics

Measles is doing more than claiming patients. The rash has created lots of debates, and even spread into the political arena. While many experts blame the anti-vaccination sentiment, major officials are beginning to check how to weigh individual choice as well as public health concerns.

Just recently, the debate suddenly shifted, as Republicans who opposed it began to get more supportive of vaccines, according to wsj.com.

Recently, almost 102 patients have been found in 14 states. Having got measles that is "extremely contagious", according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease debate has spread like wildfire.

The contenders for the 2016 US presidential nominations had begun to hotly debate the issue that some say is "political opportunism", according to rt.com. Many conservative officials are clear that even though the vaccines offer a lot of benefits for individuals as well as the state, there should still be no mandate to vaccinate.

For instance, New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, who is among the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, affirmed that "parents need to have some measure of choice in things."

"We vaccinate our kids, and so, you know that's the best expression I can give you of my opinion," Christie told reporters while visiting the UK on Monday. "You know it's much more important what you think as a parent than what you think as a public official. That's what we do. But I understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well, so that's the balance the government has to decide."

Yet Christie issued a statement later in the day, clarifying that "there is no question kids should be vaccinated."

"The Governor believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated," Christie's office said later. "At the same time different states require different degrees of vaccination, which is why he was calling for balance in which one's government should mandate."

US Senator, Rand Paul, who is also standing for the Republican presidential nomination, said that vaccination compliance should be an "issue of freedom".

"I've heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines," said Paul, who is also a doctor, to ABCnews.

"I'm not arguing vaccines are a bad idea," he added. "I think they're a good thing, but I think the parents should have some input. The state doesn't own your children. Parents own the children and it is an issue of freedom and public health."

However, by Tuesday, he had shifted his tone, and began to support them.

Other Republicans were more forceful. "Although I strongly believe in individual rights and the rights of parents to raise their children as they see fit, I also recognize that public health and public safety are extremely important in our society," said Ben Carson, who was earlier a neurosurgeon and is also getting better known in conservative political circles.

"Certain communicable diseases have been largely eradicated by immunization policies in this country and we should not allow those diseases to return by foregoing safe immunization programs, for philosophical, religious or other reasons when we have the means to eradicate them."

Republican House Speaker John Boehner weighed in on Tuesday, saying, "I don't know that we need another law, but I do believe that all children ought to be vaccinated."

Most people in the US are quite vague about it. The main issue is that of vaccinations leading to autism, which was however taken back in 2011.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, issued a defense of vaccinations on Sunday.

"You should get your kids vaccinated," the President said in an interview with NBC.

He was supported by many other Democrats, who slammed the Republicans for believing in conservative anti-vaccinations. "Why is this so hard? When given the opportunity to show leadership in calling for Americans to vaccinate their children to protect our nation from the spread of disease, shouldn't this be a no-brainer?" the Democratic National Committee said in a statement.

"Instead, Republican after Republican is bowing to the rhetoric of the anti-vaccination movement instead of standing up for the science supported by almost all doctors and scientists on protecting our kids and keeping our nation safe."