Roald Dahl: Measles killed my daughter

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Dahl should need no introduction among this crowd, but few know that measles encephalitis killed his daughter in 1962 at the age of 7.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/national/ ... ailsignout

Included in this article is his passionate plea for parents to get the MMR vaccine for their kids. What would he say if he was alive today?

He'd be very unhappy about people like Wakefield.

What vaccines are required for U.S. immigration?
At this time,* vaccines for these diseases are currently required for U.S. immigration:
Mumps
Measles
Rubella
Polio
Tetanus and diphtheria
Pertussis
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Meningococcal disease
Varicella
Pneumococcal disease
Seasonal influenza
.........................
Citizens get to choose whether or not to get their children inoculated but anyone coming in must have them?

I had a 4-month vacation in the USA, but nobody asked me about any vaccinations. Why would a permanent migrant need all those vaccines if I didn't? For all they know, I could have spread most of those diseases all over Disneyland.

If you live in the USA, the risk of EXPOSURE to those diseases are known. If you are from outside the USA, the risk of exposure is an unknown and vaccinations may be required for entry.

Otherwise, one carrier coming into the USA could expose thousands of people (vaccinate or not...it doesn't guarantee you can't get the disease) to something that isn't naturally occurring within the domestic population.

Same reason you'd want to make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date if you are leaving the USA and going someplace with lesser sanitation/disease control than what you are used to.

We'd do well to listen...

...but then, we'd probably also do well to listen to the commentary on cultural child-rearing practices Mr. Dahl put forth in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We don't, and we have the developed world full of Mike Teavees and Veruca Salts.

Hell, they even came through pretty well in the film version with Gene Wilder. You don't even have to "try simply reading a book."

Most people think THAT was "a strange movie with great set design and cute Oompa Loompas."

"Happiness is what counts with children. Happiness and harmony..."