Taking a page from those 1950's-era “pox parties,” certain circles in Marin have taken to organizing measles playdates and measles get-togethers. KQED reports that the anti-vaxxer crowd regards the disease, which has killed about 200 million people worldwide since the mid-1800's, as a childhood rite of passage. As we reported last month, this map shows the hot spots of anti-vaxxer sentiment across California, with Marin County standing in strong opposition.
Intentionally infecting your children to prove a debunked ideological point takes liberal Northern California parenting stereotypes to a dangerous level, far beyond splurging on Gorilla Munch cereal and Seventh Generation paper towels.
The warped rationale rests on getting children immune “the way God intended.” Leaving aside the mysterious ways of the Almighty, we can be pretty sure parents won't apply that logic when it comes to getting antibiotics for a child with strep. It seems like only yesterday when we were freaking out about Ebola and hoping against hope for a vaccine.
A measles party does sound almost cute — like teenagers giving each other mono — until you remember that symptoms include a 104-degree fever, conjunctivitis, a hacking cough, and red bumpy rashes. And since measles is but one part of the safe, effective, medically sanctioned MMR vaccine, it might be only a matter of time before people are getting invited to a rubella wingding or the jubilee of mumps.
The etiquette for measles parties is unclear as well. Is it okay to cough on people? Is it a faux pas to wash your hands after using the toilet? Can I bring a date who maybe slept with the host but doesn’t recall getting a booster shot? One thing’s for certain: Viral hosts want to know how many disease vectors to expect, so if an aspiring Patient Zero extends an invite to you via Facebook, don’t leave them hanging with a noncommittal maybe.
[Via KQED; image courtesy of ThinkStock]
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