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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Vaccines Protect Children,
Families, and the Community
By Dr. Jayesh Shah, 2016 BCMS President
A recent article in the San Antonio Express-News re- cerning that an elected official in Bexar County would
garding the safety of vaccines for children has created a promote inaccuracies regarding the safety of vaccines
stir in our city. Parents naturally want to protect their when, by so doing, he encourages parents to not vacci-
children and keep them healthy. Vaccines were devel- nate their children. Doing so may jeopardize the health
oped to protect children and adults from diseases that and well-being of not only our young, but our aged, and
cause great pain and suffering, birth defects, and even medically fragile — those whose health may depend on
death. However, when an illness or disability strikes a the widespread use of vaccination.
child, parents want answers and look for causes.
Dealing with autism or any chronic medical condition
As physicians, we recognize the tremendous impor- in a family can be painful, and signing onto conspiracy
tance of vaccines. Vaccines keep our children and fam- theories can be tempting when parents seek answers.
ilies healthy, prevent harmful communicable diseases, That said, Bexar County elected or appointed leaders
and protect our public’s safety. We know that vaccines should consult with the medical community and not ap-
are incredibly effective. Widespread measles vaccina- pear to represent themselves as speaking on behalf of the
tion has led to an over 99% reduction in cases of this city or county on such matters. Our county needs lead-
highly infectious and potentially life-threatening dis- ership to address the unique health challenges we face.
ease. Use of the whooping cough vaccine has resulted Such leadership must have a clear understanding of the
in a greater than 80% decrease in pertussis cases. Polio tenets of public health and prevention that keep our
has nearly been entirely eradicated from our world. We county healthy and safe. The widespread use of safe and
also know that vaccines are safe. Research reported effective vaccination is one such tenet.
from trusted scientific bodies including the Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention, the Institute of Medi- The Op. Ed above, which was published in San Anto-
cine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics proves nio Express-News on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, was de-
this to be true. To be clear, there is no scientific link veloped as a group effort with the Legislative/
between vaccines, vaccine ingredients, vaccine sched- Socioeconomics, Public Health committee members,
ules, and autism spectrum disorders. To state that a link BCMS Executive committee and TMA. Special thank
exists is factually inaccurate. you to Mary Nava, Dr. John Nava, and Dr. Ryan Van
Ramshorst for helping us formulate a quick response and
San Antonio is an international city where the threat opinion piece for the San Antonio Express-News.
of infectious disease is ever present, therefore, it is con-
8 San Antonio Medicine • October 2016
