Lawmaker displays hypocrisy on body autonomy

I note from the article in Tuesday's Gazette ('Iowa lawmaker raises vaccine skepticism”) that Sen. Jim Carlin is concerned about 'a person's legitimate interest in having autonomy over their own body.” And yet he sponsors and supports anti-choice bills that would limit abortion. To be able to hold an opposing view when the 'person” is a woman is, to say the least, disingenuous. Women would not be allowed the autonomy he reserves for individuals who have no concern about putting others at risk by not getting vaccinated.

His comments regarding autism also demonstrated ignorance of the facts about autism. Yes, autism is more frequently diagnosed than when he was a student, It is only relatively recently that it has been recognized as a disability that has a wide spectrum of manifestations. Today there is more testing and consequently more diagnoses. No link between vaccination and autism has been proven. I refer you to the CDC www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html

Bev Philpott

Marion