Rand Paul: Vaccinations Should Be Voluntary

Rand Paul believes vaccinations should be voluntary, the Republican Senator from Kentucky and medical doctor confirmed to CNBC on Monday.

“I’m not arguing vaccines are a bad idea. I think they are a good thing. But I think the parent should have some input. The state doesn’t own our children. Parents own the children,” Paul explained.

Before the CNBC interview, conservative radio host Laura Ingraham asked the potential Republican presidential nominee for 2016 how he felt about the subject in response to comments from President Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Obama called for parents to vaccinate their children against the measles following an outbreak that originated at Disneyland in California. Health officials reported more than 100 cases of the disease in 14 states during January with most cases connected to the Disney theme parks.

Christie countered that children should be vaccinated, but there needs to be a balance in the vaccine debate.

Rand Paul agreed with moderation. “What happens if you have somebody not wanting to take the smallpox vaccine and it ruins it for everybody else? I think there are times in which there can be some rules, but for the most part it ought to be voluntary.”

As a doctor, Paul took issue with the Hepatitis B vaccine being given to newborns. He also explained that he liked to stagger vaccinations over time instead of children “getting 10 vaccinations at once.”

A clip of Rand Paul’s vaccination opinions was posted by the Democratic National Committee, suggesting mandatory vaccinations could become an issue in the 2016 presidential election. The Committee said, “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.”

However, vaccinations previously received bipartisan support. In 2009, a Pew Research Center poll found that 71 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Democrats supported required vaccinations against childhood diseases.

Republicans Paul and Christie both believe childhood vaccinations are a good thing. However, they think parents should have some choice in the matter.

Paul espouses public awareness for how good vaccinations are rather than a blanket requirement. He said, “I think vaccines are one of the greatest medical breakthroughs that we have. But you know, for most of our history, they have been voluntary. So I don’t think I’m arguing for anything out of the ordinary.”

Though he didn’t give specifics, Paul also claimed he has “heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines.”

What do you think of Rand Paul’s vaccination comments?

[Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore]

Rand Paul: Vaccinations Should Be Voluntary