Plenty of Weekend America listeners responded to our piece entitled Solomon Squad: Vaccination. Read some of the audience feedback below; join the discussion.

Lori Westin - Sisters, OR

I think the doctor is quite right to refuse to be the primary pediatrician for a child whose parents disagree with his medical beliefs. The vaccination issue is just a barometer for other medical choices that may lead to other big disagreements. There are lots of doctors--find one who is a good fit, and respect a doctor who
tells you he's not that "good fit."

Lynn Nowood - Redmond, WA

Very interesting show. My family and I were just having a discussion on the issue of vaccines after watching the PBS series Rx for Survival. The men and women who brave disease infested villages in order to eradicate disease are true heroes.

Recently my daughter came home with a warning notice that one of the students at her school had contracted pertussis. My daughter’s high school is filled with kids wearing $300 designer jeans and driving performance cars. I am a retired registered nurse, have traveled to many third world countries, and am baffled by the cavalier attitudes toward vaccines by some in this country—especially at a time when we are on the verge of pandemic viruses and drug-resistant bacteria.
That these wealthy children are left vulnerable and are in fact a danger to others in the society, resurrecting diseases that should be obsolete, is indicative of how complacent we have become.

One issue your panel failed to raise was the safety of the patients in the pediatrician’s offices. New born infants who are not yet vaccinated could be exposed to diseases from the sick children of those who refuse vaccination. Though I don’t like the idea of refusing anyone healthcare, I equally have no tolerance for those who have no responsibility for the communal welfare.

Martin Bunzl - La Jolla, CA

Not to sound like sour grapes, but it would be nice to have a philosopher involved - the discussion of the vaccination problem conflated 2 different issues - what are the MD's obligations to his patient and what are his public health obligations. Here, because of what is known as the free rider problem, they pull in two different directions. As long as everyone else assumes the risk of vaccination, his patient can opt out. Such problems are hard to deal with at the individual level ... that is why we have requirements of evidence of vaccination as a requirement for school registration. I would have advised the MD to treat the patient but work to set in place a public health requirement in his community.

Bets Adair - Kirkland, WA

I wish they would have addressed more the schedule of immunizations. I believe children need to be immunized but not as early as the AMA has decided. My friend's nephew wound up in the hospital every time he received an immunization. At one point he was on the heart transplant list because of the severe reaction his body was having from the immunizations...and amazingly the medical community refused to look at the fact that the boy would be healthy until receiving the immunization shots. That would be a conversation to have. Thanks

Mirine Dye - Islamorada, FL

I truly enjoyed the piece on families who make the educated choice to not vaccinate only to be left without medical care.

A related topic is this: In many states (not all) Midwives and homebirth are a legal choice for low-risk healthy women who wish to birth at home under the supervision and care of a licensed Midwife. I am in FLorida, and we have a wonderful framework in the law on just who is eligible and how the patient must be cared for.
However, many hospitals refuse to work with the midwife in the event a transfer is needed for an unexpected problem during the pregnancy or birth. Many OB's
refuse to assist the midwife and care for her client. The latest study in the British Medical Journal shows that midwifery in the US is AS safe if not safer
than hospital birth ( see the homebirth study of CPM's of North America, BMJ.)

I believe it is unethical to have a lawful choice and alternative to high cost hospitals only for women to be punished in the event that they DO need the extra
care. I would like to know the Solomon Squad's position!

Martin Fairer - Milwaukee, WI

I think the two commentators were wrong. If he refuses someone treatment, what's the difference if he treats a child or if someone down the hall treats the child? It's not like there is a shortage of doctors here. The choice of the Doctor is equally as important as the choice of the Parent to have their child vaccinated.