Mandated Vaccinations: Public Health versus Individual Choice

We recorded this episode at the first annual WORDBridge Now's Summer Celebration in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Sara Guerrero-Duby is our guest, along with her colleague Vicki Giambrone. Sara is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Wright State University and has been a pediatrician for decades (40+ years), working with children in Ohio. Vicki Giambrone is a Managing Partner with CBD Advisors in Dayton, serving the healthcare community in its efforts to create sound legislative policy for our Ohio citizens.

We discuss where we are in the research and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines for children, under the age of 18. Some have already begun to get their shots, however, for younger children, the situation is still unclear.

The anti-vaccination movement has been around for a long time. The information they provide has been proven wrong in more recent scientific studies. However, it would seem that they have found a “new voice” or platform with the COVID-19 fight.

We now have a legislature in Ohio (and likely other states) more willing to listen to anti-vaxxers, as well as those who fought against Ohio’s role in controlling the pandemic. Sara provides an overview and the historic public health role vaccines have had in our world and the savings of lives for decades.

House Bill 248 was introduced in the Ohio legislature to allow Ohioans to say “no to vaccines”, however, it will have much greater repercussions than just allowing individuals to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine. The new legislation will greatly impact how safe children will be in school, the increase in life-threatening diseases (which had already been eradicated with vaccines) for both children and adults, and how we move into the future with disease prevention. Vicki provides an overview of the impact HB 248 will have.

Your representative does listen. We have some tips on how the general public can be more effective when we reach out to government entities, particularly when our children’s health is at stake. It should not just be “the greasy wheel” being heard, but all of us having a voice in legislation.

Finally, we ask both Sara and Vicki what they see as the future of public health and vaccines. And how we can increase knowledge and information so individuals can make sound decisions for their families.

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.