Brady Collins
In March 2019, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin revealed that he had purposely exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them. Bevin's comments came in the wake of a chickenpox outbreak at a Kentucky Catholic school, where at least one student was reported to be unvaccinated for religious reasons. While Bevin stated that he supported parents' decisions to vaccinate their children, he suggested that the government should not mandate vaccinations. Medical experts criticized Bevin's decision, stating that deliberately exposing children to chickenpox is unsafe and can put the community at risk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Governor | Matt Bevin |
| State | Kentucky |
| Year | 2019 |
| Number of Children | 9 |
| Number of Adopted Children | 4 |
| Disease | Chickenpox |
| Alternative Method Used | Exposure to infected neighbour |
| Governor's Opinion on Vaccination | Supports parents' choice but thinks it shouldn't be mandated by the government |
| Governor's Opinion on Exposing Children to Disease | Believes it is a good way to build immunity |
| Medical Opinion on Exposing Children to Disease | Not recommended due to potential risks and complications |
| Governor's Political Affiliation | Republican |
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What You'll Learn
- Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them
- Bevin deliberately exposed his children to chickenpox so they would catch the disease and become immune
- Bevin said he supports parents who choose to vaccinate their children and those who don't
- Bevin suggested the government should not mandate the chickenpox vaccine
- Medical experts have called the practice of deliberate exposure unsafe and unwise
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin revealed in a radio interview that he purposely exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them. Bevin and his wife, Glenna, have nine children, four of whom are adopted. During the interview with WKCT, a Bowling Green talk radio station, Bevin stated that he intentionally sought out a neighbour whose child had chickenpox to ensure that his children were exposed to the disease. He said, "they got the chickenpox on purpose...They were miserable for a few days, and they all turned out fine."
Bevin's comments sparked controversy, with medical experts criticising the practice as unsafe and unwise. Dr Robert Jacobson, a paediatrician and vaccine expert, stated that he would never recommend deliberately exposing children to chickenpox. Dr Dennis Clements, the chief medical officer at Duke Children's Hospital, also strongly advised against the practice, noting that it poses risks not only to the children involved but also to the wider community.
In Kentucky, the chickenpox vaccine is mandated for all children entering kindergarten, although parents may seek religious exemptions or provide proof that their child has already had the disease. Bevin expressed scepticism about government-mandated vaccines, stating, "I think, why are we forcing kids to get it?...This is America. The federal government should not be forcing this upon people."
Bevin's remarks followed news reports of a chickenpox outbreak at a Northern Kentucky Catholic school, where at least one student was unvaccinated due to religious reasons. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the chickenpox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults who have never been vaccinated or had the disease. While chickenpox is often mild, the CDC warns that serious complications can occur, including bacterial infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis.
While Bevin stated that he supports parents' choices regarding vaccination, his decision to intentionally expose his children to chickenpox rather than vaccinate them has raised concerns about the potential risks and implications of such practices.
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Bevin deliberately exposed his children to chickenpox so they would catch the disease and become immune
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin revealed in a radio interview that he deliberately exposed his nine children to chickenpox so they would contract the disease and become immune. Bevin and his wife, Glenna, have four biological and five adopted children. He stated that he intentionally sought out a neighbour whose child had chickenpox to ensure that his children were exposed to the disease.
Bevin's comments sparked controversy, with medical experts criticising the practice as unsafe and unwise. Dr Robert Jacobson, a paediatrician and vaccine expert, and Dr Dennis Clements, a chief medical officer, both strongly advised against deliberate exposure to chickenpox. They emphasised the risks associated with the disease, including potential serious complications and the possibility of developing shingles later in life.
In his interview, Bevin expressed scepticism about government-mandated vaccines, stating that parents should have the choice to vaccinate their children rather than it being a requirement. He suggested that if parents are concerned about their children contracting chickenpox, they should vaccinate them, but respected the decision of those who choose not to. Bevin's remarks followed news reports of a chickenpox outbreak at a Kentucky Catholic school, where students who were not vaccinated for religious reasons were temporarily barred from attending school.
While Bevin's actions may be seen as a common approach to immunising children, experts warn of the dangers associated with deliberate exposure. The chickenpox vaccine, introduced in 1995, is recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has prevented millions of cases each year. The CDC also highlights the potential for serious complications from chickenpox, including bacterial infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis, especially in high-risk groups such as infants, adolescents, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.
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Bevin said he supports parents who choose to vaccinate their children and those who don't
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said in a radio interview that he purposely infected his nine unvaccinated children with chickenpox. He did this by finding a neighbour whose child had chickenpox and making sure all his children were exposed to the disease. Bevin and his wife, Glenna, have nine children, four of whom are adopted.
Bevin's comments came in the context of a debate around childhood vaccinations in Kentucky. While support for childhood vaccinations remains high, there is a growing anti-vaccine movement that has contributed to a rise in measles cases in the US. Bevin's remarks also followed reports of a chickenpox outbreak at a Kentucky Catholic school, where at least one student was not vaccinated for religious reasons.
In the interview, Bevin expressed his support for parents' choices, whether they decide to vaccinate their children or not: "If you are worried about your child getting chickenpox or whatever else, vaccinate your child... But for some people, and for some parents, for some reason they choose otherwise. This is America. The federal government should not be forcing this upon people. They just shouldn’t."
Bevin's stance on vaccine choice has been echoed by Kentucky lieutenant governor candidate Ralph Alvarado, who said, "I think it’s good health policy to administer vaccines, but if people don’t want them, we shouldn’t force people to take them." However, Bevin's comments have been criticised by medical experts, who have called the practice of deliberately exposing children to chickenpox "unsafe" and "unwise."
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Bevin suggested the government should not mandate the chickenpox vaccine
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin made headlines in 2019 when he revealed that he had purposely exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them. In a radio interview with WKCT, a Bowling Green talk radio station, Bevin stated that he deliberately ensured his children contracted the disease. He argued that he wanted them to become immune by catching it as children rather than getting vaccinated.
While Bevin acknowledged the discomfort caused by the disease, he claimed that "they all turned out fine." This incident sparked controversy, with medical experts criticizing the practice as unsafe and medically unsound. In the same interview, Bevin expressed his skepticism about government-mandated vaccines. He questioned the necessity of forcing children to get vaccinated, stating, "Why are we forcing kids to get it? If you are worried about your child getting chickenpox or whatever else, vaccinate your child... But for some people, and for some parents, for some reason, they choose otherwise. This is America. The federal government should not be forcing this upon people."
Bevin's comments reflected his belief in parental choice and freedom of decision-making regarding their children's health. He suggested that while vaccination is a sensible option for concerned parents, it should not be mandated by the government. This stance aligns with his encouragement of parental discretion in medical decisions, valuing individual liberty over compulsory immunization.
However, it is important to note that Bevin's comments were met with criticism from medical professionals and experts. They emphasized the potential risks and serious complications associated with chickenpox, including bacterial infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. Public health authorities strongly discourage the deliberate exposure of children to chickenpox, highlighting the availability of safe and effective vaccines.
Bevin's statements also followed reports of a chickenpox outbreak at a Kentucky Catholic school, where students were temporarily barred from attending school if they were not immunized. This incident sparked a lawsuit by a student who claimed religious discrimination by the local health department. Bevin's comments added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding vaccine mandates and religious exemptions, with experts emphasizing the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of contagious illnesses.
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Medical experts have called the practice of deliberate exposure unsafe and unwise
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin revealed in a radio interview that he deliberately exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them. Bevin's comments came in the wake of a chickenpox outbreak at a Kentucky Catholic school, where at least one unvaccinated student was reported. While Bevin acknowledged the benefits of vaccination, he expressed skepticism about government-mandated vaccines, stating that parents should have the choice to vaccinate their children or not.
Bevin's decision to deliberately expose his children to chickenpox has been met with criticism from medical experts, who have labelled the practice as unsafe and unwise. Dr. Robert Jacobson, a pediatrician and vaccine expert from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, stated that he would never recommend such a course of action. Dr. Jacobson highlighted the risks not only to the children involved but also to the wider community. Dr. Dennis Clements, the chief medical officer at Duke Children's Hospital, also strongly advised against the practice of deliberate exposure, noting that many parents still choose to expose their children to chickenpox.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease characterized by itchy skin blisters and fever. While it is typically mild in healthy individuals, severe complications can occur, including bacterial infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis (brain inflammation). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the chickenpox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults who have not previously had the disease or received the vaccine. The first dose is recommended at 12-15 months old, with a second dose at 4-6 years old.
The chickenpox vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains a weakened form of the virus. This vaccine was introduced in the United States in 1995 and has successfully prevented over 3.5 million cases of chickenpox each year, according to the CDC. However, some parents still opt for deliberate exposure or "chickenpox parties," believing that it is safer for their children to contract the disease at a younger age. This approach is not without risks, as a small number of people infected with the virus can develop serious and potentially fatal complications. Additionally, the chickenpox virus can remain dormant for years and cause shingles later in life, resulting in painful rashes.
In conclusion, while Governor Bevin's decision to deliberately expose his children to chickenpox may be rooted in personal beliefs and a desire for natural immunity, medical experts strongly advise against such practices. The chickenpox vaccine is widely recognized as the safest option, and deliberate exposure not only endangers the exposed individuals but also poses a risk to the wider community. The potential for severe complications and the availability of an effective vaccine make deliberate exposure an unnecessary and unwise choice.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and his wife Glenna refused to vaccinate their nine children against chickenpox.
Bevin deliberately exposed his children to chickenpox so they would catch the disease and become immune. He said, "I think, why are we forcing kids to get it? If you are worried about your child getting chickenpox or whatever else, vaccinate your child... But for some people, and for some parents, for some reason, they choose otherwise. This is America. The federal government should not be forcing this upon people."
Yes. According to Bevin, his children were "'miserable for a few days" but "they all turned out fine."
Yes. Medical experts called the practice unsafe and unwise. Dr. Robert Jacobson, a pediatrician and expert in vaccines and childhood diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said, "I would never recommend or advise it." Dr. Dennis Clements, the chief medical officer at Duke Children's Hospital, also strongly advised against it.
