to think that this is just as much anti-vaxxers' as it is Torys' fault?

[FithColumnist]

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/02/dickensian-diseases-gout-whooping-cough-and-scarlet-fever-on-rise
So, we're seeing more whooping cough these days:

"Although it was virtually wiped out in the 1950s following a nationwide vaccination programme, admissions with a primary diagnosis of whooping cough increased by 59%."

While I thoroughly excoriate the current Tory government and their cuts, and wholly believe that they have literally caused people to die, in this case, am I being wholly unreasonable in thinking that the rise in whooping cough (along with chicken pox and measles) is more a symptom of people refusing to vaccinate their children?

Who do expect the Gruniard to blame?????

Well yes anti vaxers are primarily to blame however I do know many of our local gp’s no longer send out reminders for vaccinations so some do get missed simply by the system.

It reads like OP just wants to enjoy finding scapegoats.

YeOldeTrout, blaming people who refuse to vaccinate their children for the rise in diseases which were almost entirely eradicated due to vaccination is hardly scapegoating! It's bloody science.

Whooping cough vaccines are available to all during pregnancy and with the first set of injections at 8 weeks - if people don’t take them then it’s up to them. Routine midwife appointments and childhood vaccination go on, and have not been ‘cut’.

Scarlet fever is on the rise, but there is nothing you can really do to prevent it - no vaccine or preventative treatment. Also not caused by ‘cuts’.

It’s a very silly article, untroubled by any medical knowledge

because of course evil Tories eat babies on toast dontcha know...

wholly believe that they have literally caused people to die,
I'll admit that when Boris or Jacob R-M start talking I do thinking about ending it there and then but I'm pretty sure that the govt isn't actually going round putting pillows over peoples' faces or turning the life-support machines off at the wall.
It's comments like these that reduce your credibility to zero.

I wonder if scarlet fever could be reduced if it was a bit easier to get a GP appointment, get tested for it and get antibiotics? I've never had to take the kids to a UK GP for strep throat as we left for Germany when they were little but IIRC the standard line for sore throats was "come back in 5 days if it hasn't improved" whereas here in Germany DD1 woke this morning with a sore throat, we got an appt with 45 mins' notice and got her tested for strep there and then. First dose of penicillin 3 hours after she first complained of a sore throat and she hasn't taken it to school either.
But that wouldn't explain why scarlet fever has increased in recent years, because even when I was a kid in the UK, they made you wait and see before prescribing, and that's not yesterday

because of course evil Tories eat babies on toast dontcha know...

IHeartMarmiteToast is there Marmite on their baby toast?

My child had whooping cough despite being vaccinated. In my case it was nothing to do with austerity and more likely to have been bad luck and anti-vaxers (who I was very sweary about at that time). For anyone in any doubt- the vaccine saved my child from being very, very ill and the mild case was still bloody horrid.

I don’t doubt austerity has had other significant impacts on health outcomes but I think it is too simplistic to blame the rise on the current government entirely.

Ds had scarlet fever when he was 3, wasn’t a big deal and I’m pretty sure The Tories didn’t cause it

Who do expect the Gruniard to blame?????

Pretty ironic typo there.

Ds had scarlet fever when he was 3, wasn’t a big deal and I’m pretty sure The Tories didn’t cause it

DD had scarlet fever when she was 4 and nearly died from it. I generally loathe the Tories but also pretty sure they aren't to blame for it ... yet. Luckily the NHS was there for us when we really really needed it. Unfortunately, thanks to cuts to the NHS, and the overuse of antibiotics, other children might not be so lucky.

Pretty sure it's corbyns fault.

Absolutely right sister, everything is the fault of Jeremy Corbyn.

Re. your last paragraph: Chicken Pox is not routinely vaccinated against in the UK and not everyone can afford to go private.

permanently I’m so sorry to hear that, DS was hardly ill at all and we didn’t realise it was serious until his key worker at preschool told me it was a reportable illness (presumably to dept of Health or something)

This isn't just about vaccinations and treatment (although they are vitally important), but a key part of prevention is public health. Public health spending has been massively cut, so people are not getting the right messages, and the anti vaxxer message is not being shut down/ minimised.

We do forget the important role of public health bodies in keeping us well. In fact many people don't even know that they exist.

Worthwhile reading from the BMA on the impact of public health spending cuts.

www.bma.org.uk/collective-voice/policy-and-research/public-and-population-health/public-health-budgets

Of COURSE it’s the tories fault!!! I mean who else would you blame right?!! They are the devil incarnate, spreading vicious tales about how bad vaccines are.

Don’t be so silly OP.

IHeartMarmiteToast
because of course evil Tories eat babies on toast dontcha know...

I prefer mine barbecued

Not just anti-vaxxers, it is people visiting and moving to the country who haven't been vaccinated too, and those who visit countries without a vaccination programme and bring it back, who increase the numbers.