the local health committee just confirmed theyll be upholding the vaccination requirements we fought for. we actually did it and kept our city safe from these outbreaks. stay vigilant because we need to make sure they stick to this plan.
April 29, 2015
Final supporters
In the 1930s, measles infections in Baltimore sickened thousands and killed or permanently injured hundreds of children every year. Outbreaks came and went, seemingly at random, bringing uncertainty, fear, and tragedy to families across our city.
Then a scientist recognized a pattern. He found that the outbreaks occurred at times when most children in Baltimore had not experienced measles and were therefore susceptible to the infection. He correctly reasoned that when enough children were immune to measles by virtue of having survived a past infection, the virus could not easily spread.
This pattern turned out to be the key to the effectiveness of vaccination, one of the safest and most successful medical advances in history. By increasing the number of children who are immune, vaccines prevent outbreaks of lethal disease.
After an effective measles vaccine was developed in the 1960s, the number of measles cases in Baltimore began to decline. For the last ten years, our city has seen zero measles infections. Zero hospitalizations. Zero permanent injuries. Zero deaths.
But Baltimore is not an island. Despite consensus among doctors and scientists that vaccines are safe and effective, there have been increasing numbers of parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children. In 2014, there were 644 cases of measles across 27 states.
The recent outbreak that began at Disneyland is spreading among unvaccinated children. As a result, parents of children who are not able to be vaccinated, such as those under one year of age and those with weakened immune systems, are fearful of illness and complications. The Disneyland outbreak raises the real risk that measles may come roaring back.
We have come too far to let that happen. Please join Baltimore’s health department and our region’s pediatricians to stand against measles. Make sure your child is up-to-date on all vaccines. This protects your child and will help safeguard all children in our community. Vaccines are more than individual choice; they are our obligation to one another. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor. We can address misinformation and myths about vaccination with science and facts.
Together, we can keep our children healthy and our community safe and well.
Leana S. Wen, M.D.
Commissioner
Baltimore City Health Department
Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D.
Associate Dean
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthGeorge J. Dover, M.D.
Director of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
Joneigh Khaldun, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Baltimore City Health Department
Michael Crocetti, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
Tina Cheng, M.D.
Chair of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Steven J. Czinn, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
University of Maryland School of Medicine;
Physician-in-Chief,
University of Maryland Children's Hospital
Michael Langbaum, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
University of Maryland
St. Joseph Medical Center
Joseph Wiley, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
Sinai Hospital
Laurel G. Yap, M.D.
Director of Pediatrics
Harbor Hospital
Michael G. Burke, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
Saint Agnes Hospital
Susan Dulkerian, M.D.
Interim Chair of Pediatrics
Mercy Medical Center
Gregory Branch, M.D., MBA, CPE
Director, Health and Human Services;
Director, Department of Social Services;
Health Officer and Director, Department of Health
Timothy Doran, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Scott Krugman, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Susan Chaitovitz, M.D., FAAP
President, Maryland Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement. Increasing Immunization Coverage. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1295-1304
Baltimore City Health Department. Measles Fact Sheet.http://health.baltimorecity.gov/MeaslesInformation Accessed 5 February 2015.
Bloom, B. Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy. Science. 2014;244:339.
Centers for Disease Control. Frequently Asked Questions about Measles in the United States. http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html Accessed 5 February 2015.
Hedrich, A.W. Monthly estimates of the Child Population ‘Susceptible’ to Measles, 1900-1931, Baltimore, MD. Am J Hyg 1933;17:613-636.
Updates
March 3, 2015
im still reading through all the stories people are leaving in the comments and it is honestly wild to see how many of us are worried about the same things. im working on getting a meeting set up with the local health office so they have to look at these signatures and hear what we have to say.
March 3, 2015
im honestly kind of stunned by the momentum this is picking up lately. its clear that so many of you care just as much as i do about keeping our city safe and healthy.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2015
35 Comments
The Johns Hopkins Med-Peds program will continue to make every effort to vaccinate all of the children we care for at the East Baltimore Medical Center and beyond.
Measles is one of the leading causes of death in children. Globally, this is disease is a menace for which we have been able to prevent for decades. To allow children in our country to suffer from this disease is truly a tragedy fed by ignorance.
I doubt the efficacy of this petition as those who beleive in immunizations already are on board, those wo don't won't be swayed by this and those who have poo access to healthcare/havefragmented healthcae probably won't ever see this. I'm sining just to show "I put my oney where my mouth is" and have immunnized all 3 of my own children.
Oregon may eliminate non-medical reasons to decline vaccines. Maryland should eliminate non-medical reasons to decline vaccines.
Let's not risk the continued return of preventable and potentially fatal diseases- especially for our youngest children who can't yet receive certain vaccines. Vaccinate your children to keep them healthy!
Full support!
MD
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
the local health committee just confirmed theyll be upholding the vaccination requirements we fought for. we actually did it and kept our city safe from these outbreaks. stay vigilant because we need to make sure they stick to this plan.
April 29, 2015
Final supporters
In the 1930s, measles infections in Baltimore sickened thousands and killed or permanently injured hundreds of children every year. Outbreaks came and went, seemingly at random, bringing uncertainty, fear, and tragedy to families across our city.
Then a scientist recognized a pattern. He found that the outbreaks occurred at times when most children in Baltimore had not experienced measles and were therefore susceptible to the infection. He correctly reasoned that when enough children were immune to measles by virtue of having survived a past infection, the virus could not easily spread.
This pattern turned out to be the key to the effectiveness of vaccination, one of the safest and most successful medical advances in history. By increasing the number of children who are immune, vaccines prevent outbreaks of lethal disease.
After an effective measles vaccine was developed in the 1960s, the number of measles cases in Baltimore began to decline. For the last ten years, our city has seen zero measles infections. Zero hospitalizations. Zero permanent injuries. Zero deaths.
But Baltimore is not an island. Despite consensus among doctors and scientists that vaccines are safe and effective, there have been increasing numbers of parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children. In 2014, there were 644 cases of measles across 27 states.
The recent outbreak that began at Disneyland is spreading among unvaccinated children. As a result, parents of children who are not able to be vaccinated, such as those under one year of age and those with weakened immune systems, are fearful of illness and complications. The Disneyland outbreak raises the real risk that measles may come roaring back.
We have come too far to let that happen. Please join Baltimore’s health department and our region’s pediatricians to stand against measles. Make sure your child is up-to-date on all vaccines. This protects your child and will help safeguard all children in our community. Vaccines are more than individual choice; they are our obligation to one another. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor. We can address misinformation and myths about vaccination with science and facts.
Together, we can keep our children healthy and our community safe and well.
Leana S. Wen, M.D.
Commissioner
Baltimore City Health Department
Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D.
Associate Dean
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthGeorge J. Dover, M.D.
Director of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
Joneigh Khaldun, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Baltimore City Health Department
Michael Crocetti, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
Tina Cheng, M.D.
Chair of Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Steven J. Czinn, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
University of Maryland School of Medicine;
Physician-in-Chief,
University of Maryland Children's Hospital
Michael Langbaum, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
University of Maryland
St. Joseph Medical Center
Joseph Wiley, M.D.
Chief of Pediatrics
Sinai Hospital
Laurel G. Yap, M.D.
Director of Pediatrics
Harbor Hospital
Michael G. Burke, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
Saint Agnes Hospital
Susan Dulkerian, M.D.
Interim Chair of Pediatrics
Mercy Medical Center
Gregory Branch, M.D., MBA, CPE
Director, Health and Human Services;
Director, Department of Social Services;
Health Officer and Director, Department of Health
Timothy Doran, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Scott Krugman, M.D.
Chairman of Pediatrics
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Susan Chaitovitz, M.D., FAAP
President, Maryland Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement. Increasing Immunization Coverage. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1295-1304
Baltimore City Health Department. Measles Fact Sheet.http://health.baltimorecity.gov/MeaslesInformation Accessed 5 February 2015.
Bloom, B. Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy. Science. 2014;244:339.
Centers for Disease Control. Frequently Asked Questions about Measles in the United States. http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html Accessed 5 February 2015.
Hedrich, A.W. Monthly estimates of the Child Population ‘Susceptible’ to Measles, 1900-1931, Baltimore, MD. Am J Hyg 1933;17:613-636.
Updates
March 3, 2015
im still reading through all the stories people are leaving in the comments and it is honestly wild to see how many of us are worried about the same things. im working on getting a meeting set up with the local health office so they have to look at these signatures and hear what we have to say.
March 3, 2015
im honestly kind of stunned by the momentum this is picking up lately. its clear that so many of you care just as much as i do about keeping our city safe and healthy.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2015
35 Comments
I support requiring looking out for the public good through herd immunity in order to recieve access to public benefits like education.
The Johns Hopkins Med-Peds program will continue to make every effort to vaccinate all of the children we care for at the East Baltimore Medical Center and beyond.
Measles is one of the leading causes of death in children. Globally, this is disease is a menace for which we have been able to prevent for decades. To allow children in our country to suffer from this disease is truly a tragedy fed by ignorance.
I doubt the efficacy of this petition as those who beleive in immunizations already are on board, those wo don't won't be swayed by this and those who have poo access to healthcare/havefragmented healthcae probably won't ever see this. I'm sining just to show "I put my oney where my mouth is" and have immunnized all 3 of my own children.
Oregon may eliminate non-medical reasons to decline vaccines. Maryland should eliminate non-medical reasons to decline vaccines.
Let's not risk the continued return of preventable and potentially fatal diseases- especially for our youngest children who can't yet receive certain vaccines. Vaccinate your children to keep them healthy!
Full support!
MD
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I support requiring looking out for the public good through herd immunity in order to recieve access to public benefits like education.