An Arizona lawmaker decries mandatory vaccinations tantamount to communism — an assertion that experts call a 'false argument' that dangerously undermines efforts to control measles outbreaks.
, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cases span 10 states, including four that are experiencing outbreaks: New York, Washington, Texas and Illinois.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Townsend said her post has been misconstrued. She said she is not anti-vaccine, adding that she fully vaccinated her oldest child, but stopped giving her children vaccines because she believes her middle child, who has Asperger's and seizures, was injured from a shot at 11 months old.
Townsend said she believes people should be able to choose whether to vaccinate their children rather than be required to do so. She also said more research should be done on the safety of vaccines, a common refrain among anti-vaccine activists. Dr. Albert Wu, a professor of health policy management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a practicing physician, called Townsend's post"unfortunate," especially at a time when it's critical to educate the public.
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