Republican candidates Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul forayed into the debate over whether parents should vaccinate their children.
Christie said Monday parents should have the choice to vaccinate their children, a position that he’s taken in the past. He drew criticism for his remark that “not every vaccine is created equal, and not every disease type is as great a public health threat as others,” and was forced to issue another statement to clarify, saying “with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated,” but left it open to suggestion that most other vaccines should be up to the parents.
“I think his comment has been slightly overblown. He does not appear to be anti-vaccine. I think he wants parents to get involved in the discussions with health care providers and become educated. Because an educated parent and individual will look at the data. And the data strongly supports vaccinating,” Howard S. Gold, an attorney focuses exclusively on vaccine injury law before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, told Epoch Times.
Gold noted Christie’s original comments about how not all vaccines are created equal has some merit.