Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday that parents should get their children vaccinated, wading into an ongoing debate over whether vaccines should be required.
“Parents ought to make sure their children are vaccinated,” Mr. Bush said during a question-and-answer session at the Detroit Economic Club.
The likely 2016 presidential contender mocked the idea that the issue of vaccinations needed to be discussed any further. “I mean, do we need to get into any detail on that?” he said.
The issue has received a lot of attention following a measles outbreak in the United States that has been fueled by unvaccinated children, and it has caused headaches for some of Mr. Bush’s potential rivals for the 2016 GOP nomination.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said during an overseas trip to England this week that he vaccinated his kids, but that government should strike a balance so parents have a say in the issue.
His office later clarified that “there is no question kids should be vaccinated.”
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky also faced some criticism for saying the decision to vaccinate should be voluntary.
Mr. Bush said he understands how the news media can create controversy by misinterpreting comments from public figures.
“I think it it is better just to say, parents have a responsibly to make sure their children are protected — over and out, ” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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