As two potential Republican presidential candidates ignited controversy last week with vaccination comments, not one member of Congress expressed doubts about vaccination in writing.
Republican and Democratic members of Congress and their staff tweeted more than 100 times and sent around 25 press releases on vaccinations and the measles outbreak over the last week. While Democratic offices dominated the share of releases and tweets sent explicitly calling for vaccines, both sides spoke favorably of vaccinating children.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) both made statements last week questioning whether vaccines should be mandated, later circling back to emphasize their personal beliefs in the importance of vaccination. Scientists agree that no link has been found between autism and vaccines for measles and other conditions, a belief that has led to declining vaccination rates.
Some complained the media has wrongly lumped the GOP with the anti-vaccine crowd and over-simplified the debate.
"Ironic: Today I am getting my booster vaccine. Wonder how the liberal media will misreport this?" Paul tweeted after his initial comments when he invited a photographer along to document the doctor's visit.
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined the chorus of Democrats calling for vaccination.
"So scary. My baby's too young 4 measles vaccine. This is near me. Sounds like they r doing all they can but still scary. http://bit.ly/1Djv7L3," she tweeted.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) tweeted a link to his memory of having measles before vaccines and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) urged their importance.
"#Measles outbreak shows #vaccines are vital for public health. On @KDKARadio with @BillyRayKDKA at 4:35PM http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/station/newsradio-1020-kdka/" Murphy tweeted.
Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Randy Forbes (R-Va.) considered constituent concerns on the outbreak, with Blackburn pledging to ask health experts the public's questions about measles at a hearing and Forbes linking to a poll on mandatory vaccine requirements.
But several Democrats still had tough words on the issue for their colleagues across the aisle.
"To my R friends: The Supreme Court decided the #vaccine issue in 1905. Isn't it time we focused on winning battles of the 21st century?" Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) tweeted.
