To the Point
The Rise in Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Deadly childhood diseases once thought eradicated are making a comeback around the world. We look at the reasons and what might be done in the interests of public health.
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenDeadly childhood diseases once thought eradicated are making a comeback around the world. In some places, it's polio, where violence, religion and political paranoia have caused a drop in vaccinations. In the US, it's measles, where some parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children. We look at the reasons, the consequences and what might be done in the interests of public health. Also, the Supreme Court strikes down aggregate limits on campaign contributions, and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld gets his close-up.
Banner image: PV2 Andrew W. McGalliard
In this episode
3 storiesSCOTUS Strikes Aggregate Limits on Campaign Contributions
"Congress may regulate campaign contributions to protect against corruption" but, "it may not regulate contributions simply to reduce the amount of money in politics." That's from Chief Justice John Roberts today in the latest Supreme Court decision rolling back limits on campaign donations.
Read the story8 minPreventable Diseases Are Making a Comeback
The development of vaccines has changed modern history by preventing diseases that once killed millions of people. But there have recently been outbreaks of childhood maladies thought to have been eliminated. Most Americans don't remember measles, because the disease was declared eradicated in the year 2000.
Read the story33 minRumsfeld Gets the Errol Morris Treatment
In Errol Morris' Oscar-winning film, The Fog of War , former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was conscience-stricken over the war in Vietnam. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Morris he hated it, because "that man had nothing to apologize for."
Read the story11 min
