Dem implores public to ignore vaccine ‘hysteria’

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) on Tuesday related his personal experience with polio to urge Americans to vaccinate their children.

Cohen related the story of his father, a physician, giving shots to second grade children as part of testing for the polio vaccine in 1954. His father had decided not to give the shot to anyone not in second grade – and Cohen, then in kindergarten, consequently didn’t get the vaccine. 

“So while the vaccine was in my home and he thought about giving it to me, he didn’t. And in the spring of 1954, I came down with polio. My father never forgave himself for not having given me that vaccination. And I’ve suffered for it ever since and will continue through the rest of my life,” Cohen said on the House floor.

{mosads}Cohen said he wanted to share his story to warn anyone convinced that vaccines don’t work or cause unintended side effects.

“I relate this story to tell people in America, vaccinate your children. Don’t listen to the hysteria,” the Tennessee Democrat said.

“Science has given us ways to stop children from getting diseases that have threatened society for generations and generations. Do vaccinate. It’s safe.”

A new study released this week published in the Journal of the American Medical Association affirmed that the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) does not increase the risk of autism.