Arizonans deserve better than vaccine conspiracies and downright dangerous rhetoric

As an Arizonan and mother of three, it has been truly sad to witness recent legislative hearings that have been held and the bills that have advanced relating to science and public health. 

The legislative leadership’s mistrust of medical institutions and public health officials is palpable, and one need only tune in to the Ad-Hoc Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee hearings to feel the anti-science sentiment and conspiracy theories seep deep into your bones. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the anti-vaccine movement liked to claim that any number of ailments a child might have were attributable to childhood vaccinations. Since the pandemic, the rhetoric has exploded and anti-vaccine advocates have evolved into blaming nearly any ailment anyone has on vaccines (including routine childhood immunizations), but especially the Covid-19 vaccine. 

I am not saying that adverse reactions to vaccines are not real, whether that be a legacy vaccine or a newer vaccine. But true vaccine injuries are exceedingly rare — fewer than one in a million vaccinated people suffer a serious side effect. 

When you compare that to the number of unvaccinated or vulnerable people who are at risk for harm or death from an outbreak of disease, it’s clear that vaccines save lives against a myriad of diseases. Period. Hard stop. That is the truth.