Let's stop playing politics with vaccines
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- Let's stop playing politics with vaccines
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Let's stop playing politics with vaccines
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[ID] => 560009
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[post_date] => 2025-01-09 01:52:16
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-01-09 06:52:16
[post_content] => Practice Passage (Question 1-6)
*This passage is the property of Khan Academy and has been reformatted into an AAMC-style interface in their entirety by MedLife Mastery. MedLife Mastery does not endorse and is not an affiliate of Khan Academy.
Politically motivated fearmongering about vaccination is putting children in our community in danger. During the Republican presidential primaries leading up to the 2012 election, former representative Michele Bachmann criticized Governor Rick Perry’s mandate for the HPV vaccine, which protects against a cancer-causing virus. She claimed at the time that she had met parents who believed that the vaccine gave their daughters “mental retardation.” These statements introduced a new precedent of injecting issues of vaccine safety into presidential politics. The American Academy of Pediatrics made emphatic statements at the time to clarify that the HPV vaccine does not cause mental retardation, but by this point the damage had been done: fear had taken hold in parents’ minds.
In 2015, with the presidential election around the corner and a widespread measles outbreak on our minds, the dangerous mix of immunization paranoia and politics continues. Senator Rand Paul, physician and presidential hopeful, claims to have met “many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines,” a statement that is dubious at best. His words are grounded in a fraudulent study that has long since been retracted and its author now discredited. Governor Chris Christie has also entered into the debate by stating, “parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well, so that’s the balance that the government has to decide.” By employing the rhetoric of individual rights and a fear of big government, those in public office often attempt to score cheap political points and win public acceptance. Politicians like Senator Paul and Governor Christie are brandishing discredited ideas as tenable arguments against clear evidence-based recommendations to vaccinate, sowing confusion amongst parents.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is a leading cause of death worldwide, despite the universal availability of a widely researched and safe vaccine against it. The disease killed over 145,000 individuals, most of them children under 5 years of age, in 2013. Immunization against diseases like measles not only protects those that receive the vaccines but also helps to protect those who are not eligible to receive them, such as young infants and children with deficient immune systems. It is these children who are also at the highest risk of grave complications ranging from encephalitis to pneumonia, and depend on the rest of us to protect them.
It is no secret that vaccination rates across the country are falling. Based on CDC data, the nationwide measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate among 19-35 month-olds is 91.9%, down from a rate of 92.3% in 2006. Rates are falling most in Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, Connecticut and Virginia. More and more parents will choose to opt out of immunizing their children for fear of side effects, thanks to the dissemination of groundless claims. In response to the current epidemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released a recent statement once again exhorting parents to vaccinate their children, reiterating what they have said for decades: the measles vaccine is safe and effective.
We are already burdened with a wide number of celebrities, discredited researchers, and physicians relying on anecdotes and hearsay who are more than willing to use the vaccine controversy to gain quick publicity. Politicians should be clear to the public on the proven science of vaccines and should avoid muddying the waters further. It would be better for the candidates, too: it is widely believed that Michelle Bachmann lost credibility because of her statements on vaccines in 2008. Senator Paul and Governor Christie should learn a lesson from her failure and be willing to communicate a clear message to the public: vaccines are safe and are effective at protecting against dangerous diseases. Unnecessary vaccine exemptions put our greatest asset – our children – at risk.
[post_title] => Let's stop playing politics with vaccines
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[post_modified] => 2025-01-09 02:00:37
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[questions] => Array
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[quiz_unique_key] => 578908434
[question] => The passage author’s main message is best described by which of the following statements? Politicians are disseminating fear about vaccines due to their:
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 3
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Foundations of Comprehension” question which is asking you to recognize an accurate paraphrase or summary of the central theme or of particular statements in the passage, or to interpret word choices made by the author.
Paragraph 1 characterizes the public assertions that politicians make about vaccines as, “politically motivated fearmongering,” just before using Michelle Bachmann’s statements about HPV vaccine as an example. Paragraph 2 reiterates this view by stating that “those in public office often attempt to score cheap political points and win public acceptance.” The author’s argument that certain politicians’ statements about vaccines are politically motivated suggests they are using these fears as a political opportunity (option 3). The author does not argue that these politicians are ignorant and uneducated about vaccines (option 1), but instead suggests that they are intentionally “disseminat[ing] groundless claims” (paragraph 4) for self-interested reasons. While the specific candidates mentioned in the passage happen to be conservative, the author never brings up the role of political value systems in the vaccine debate (option 4). While it’s plausible they might get some financial gain from their actions, neither this nor greed (option 2) are implied as a motive by the author.
Option 3 is correct.
)
[answers] => Array
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[0] => Array
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[each_answer] => A. ignorance
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[1] => Array
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[each_answer] => B. economic greed
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[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. opportunism
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[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. conservatism
)
)
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[1] => Array
(
[quiz_unique_key] => 3873426850
[question] => Suppose that a national program, initially launched in 2006, in which 19-35 month-old babies were given free vaccinations in rural areas, was recently ended because it was too expensive. How would this new information impact the author’s main point about the consequences of politicization of vaccine safety on vaccination rates?
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 3
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Reasoning Beyond the Text” question, which means that it wants you to either apply or extrapolate the ideas in the passage to new situations or to assess how new information would impact the ideas presented in the passage. It is important to understand the assumptions underlying the article, and how new information may or may not shift the central thesis.
Paragraph 4, the author cites CDC data indicating that “the nationwide measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate among 19-35 month-olds is 91.9%, down from a rate of 92.3% in 2006.” The author then concludes that the rates will continue to drop if the political “dissemination of groundless claims” continues. Again, there is a causal connection the author is making between such claims made by politicians, and the drop in vaccination rates. If it turns out that the drop is perhaps due to some other reason, such as the ending of key vaccination programs due to their high costs, then it becomes less likely that political discussions about vaccine safety are lowering the national vaccination rates. As a result, the author’s argument that there is a link between politicization and vaccination rates is weakened, because “the drop in vaccination rates is explained by lesser availability of vaccines in rural areas”, and not strengthened as suggested by options 1 and 2. Although option 4 also suggests that the author’s argument will be weakened, the passage mentions nothing about the relationship between conservative values and the likelihood that a person will buy into claims about certain vaccines being unsafe (option 4).
Option 3 is correct.
)
[answers] => Array
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[0] => Array
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[each_answer] => A. It would be strengthened, since the drop in vaccinations has likely led to an increase in infant deaths.
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[1] => Array
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[each_answer] => B. It would be strengthened, since politicization of vaccine safety has led to defunding of key programs.
)
[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. It would be weakened, since the drop in vaccination rates is explained by lesser availability of vaccines in rural areas.
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[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. It would be weakened, since rural constituents are more likely to hold conservative values.
)
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[2] => Array
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[quiz_unique_key] => 83407773
[question] => Which of the following hypothetical politicians is acting most consistent with the author’s recommendations?
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 2
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Reasoning Beyond the Text” question, which means that it wants you to either apply or extrapolate the ideas in the passage to new situations or to assess how new information would impact the ideas presented in the passage. It is important to understand the assumptions underlying the article, and how new information may or may not shift the central thesis.
In paragraph 1 the author writes about how mentioning vaccine safety as an issue to begin with “introduced a new precedent of injecting issues of vaccine safety into presidential politics.” Paragraph 2 characterizes the political debate on vaccine safety as a “dangerous mix of immunization paranoia and politics.” Paragraph 4 then emphasizes that vaccine safety, prior to the politicization of the issue, had long before been a given in the medical community. The author writes, “the American Academy of Pediatrics has released a recent statement…reiterating what they have said for decades: the measles vaccine is safe and effective.” Paragraph 5 then goes on to imply that now vaccine safety has become an issue at all, politicians should “avoid muddying the waters further.” Clearly, the author believes that vaccine safety should be a given, and that debating the issue politically only gives rise to paranoia that is founded on false information. Thus, it would be consistent with this for a politician to simply not discuss the issue. The author never advocates for active political promotion of mandated vaccination (option 4) beyond correcting the record about vaccination safety. The author clearly does not want politicians reinforcing the voters’ views (option 3) that are often based in fears and wrong information. Nor does the author want politicians to encourage people to make a choice that could mean choosing not to get vaccinated out of unfounded fears.
Option 2 is correct
)
[answers] => Array
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[0] => Array
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[each_answer] => A. one that encourages parents to exercise their choice
)
[1] => Array
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[each_answer] => B. one that never mentions the issue of vaccination
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[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. one that reaffirms what their voters already believe
)
[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. one that argues for zero exemptions from government required vaccination
)
)
)
[3] => Array
(
[quiz_unique_key] => 872728905
[question] => The function of paragraph 3 mentioning the World Health Organization’s assessment of worldwide deaths due to measles is to:
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 4
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Foundations of Comprehension” question which is asking you to recognize an accurate paraphrase or summary of the central theme or of particular statements in the passage, or to interpret word choices made by the author.
Paragraph 3 takes the reader on a minor tangent about the number of people who die each year around the world from measles, a vaccine preventable disease. The World Health Organization data is general information, and the author does not interpret that data in a way that directly connects the number of people who die worldwide from measles to the vaccine safety issue debated in the United States (option 1). Instead, the author cites the number of people who die each year because of failure to be vaccinated. The author mentions that people die from measles despite the “universal availability of a widely researched and safe vaccine,” not to address global disparity (option 2) but to give the reader an idea of how devastating vaccine-preventable diseases can be without proper immunization (option 4). The author also never explains why the number of deaths on an international level is so high (option 3). While it might be due to misinformation about vaccine safety, it may also be due to many other reasons, such as a lack of resources or political corruption. The reader is never told why.
Option 4 is correct.
)
[answers] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[each_answer] => A. suggest that American politicization of vaccine safety has global consequences.
)
[1] => Array
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[each_answer] => B. illustrate the global disparity that exists among children in terms of vaccine access.
)
[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. argue that misinformation about vaccine safety is an international phenomenon.
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[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. emphasize the importance of preventing potentially fatal diseases with vaccination.
)
)
)
[4] => Array
(
[quiz_unique_key] => 3143847772
[question] => It can be inferred from the author’s discussion of individual choice in paragraph 2 that the author believes that such rights:
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 1
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Foundations of Comprehension” question which is asking you to recognize an accurate paraphrase or summary of the central theme or of particular statements in the passage, or to interpret word choices made by the author.
In paragraph 2, the author never offers an opinion on the desirability or undesirability of individual rights. Rather, the author writes that politicians use “the rhetoric of individual rights and a fear of big government” in order to “score cheap political points” and “win public acceptance”.” In other words, the author believes that politicians are trying to increase their own popularity by exploiting people’s fears about losing their rights (option 1). The author seems to have a negative view of this rhetoric as “cheap”, but never suggests that vaccinations are more important than individual rights (option 4), or vice-versa (option 2). Nor does the author suggest that such rights be restricted so that we can preserve public health (option 3). The author does not state their own support or opposition of a government imposed requirement for vaccination, but rather argues that refusals to vaccinate are “dangerous” and that politicians should not stir up unfounded fears that might increase such refusals.
Option 1 is correct.
)
[answers] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[each_answer] => A. are political values that are being exploited by politicians to frame the vaccine debate.
)
[1] => Array
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[each_answer] => B. should be temporarily restricted to halt the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases.
)
[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. cannot be preserved without policies that protect public health.
)
[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. are more important than our desire to vaccinate.
)
)
)
[5] => Array
(
[quiz_unique_key] => 3143847772
[question] => Which of the following assumptions is most central to the author’s argument?
[value] => Array
(
[answer] => 1
[description] => Reason for the Correct Answer:
This is a “Reasoning Within the Text” question, which means that it directs your attention to an argument, claim, or theme presented in the passage, and tests your ability to analyze and evaluate the strength of evidentiary relationships among component parts of an argument.
Paragraph 2 cites the confusion that is created among parents due to the statements made by politicians about vaccines. Paragraph 3 notes the nationwide decreases in certain pediatric vaccines and states that “[M]ore and more parents will choose to opt out of immunizing their children for fear of side effects, thanks to the dissemination of groundless claims.” The passage is making a connection between the “groundless claims” made by politicians and the drop in the vaccination rates, and thus is assuming that there is a causal relationship between the two (option 1). Michele Bachmann’s statements were merely one example (option 2). While the author believes that there is substantial evidence showing that vaccines are effective, the author never states or implies that scientific research on vaccine effectiveness should cease altogether (option 3). In paragraph 5, the author notes, “We are already burdened with a wide number of celebrities, discredited researchers, and physicians relying on anecdotes and hearsay who are more than willing to use the vaccine controversy to gain quick publicity.” While the author may be assuming, to some extent, that people fail to identify which claims are credible and which are false (option 4), that failure need not be due to a lack of intelligence. People may simply lack the expertise to determine which claims are accurate.
Option 1 is correct.
)
[answers] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[each_answer] => A. Recent decreases in vaccinations are largely due to politicians’ dissemination of false information.
)
[1] => Array
(
[each_answer] => B. Politician Michele Bachmann’s statements are the only reason vaccines became a political issue.
)
[2] => Array
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[each_answer] => C. There is no longer a need for the medical community to research the effectiveness of vaccines.
)
[3] => Array
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[each_answer] => D. The general public is not intelligent enough to be able to judge what is false from what is credible.
)
)
)
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[560009|1] => C
[560009|2] => C
[560009|3] => B
[560009|4] => D
[560009|5] => A
[560009|6] => A
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