AP Wire

Sensible Jindal backs vaccinations

by The Associated Press

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal has waded into the vaccine debate, urging parents to get their children vaccinated and saying he wouldn't send his children to a school that allowed vaccinations to be optional.

In a statement Tuesday, the Republican governor and former health care official said he has "no reservations" about vaccines. He said: "Science supports them and they keep our children safe."

The possible presidential candidate criticized what he called fear-mongering about vaccines and called it irresponsible "for leaders to undermine the public's confidence in vaccinations that have been tested and proven to protect public health."

Jindal's statement sharply differs from comments made by two other Republican White House prospects. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul suggested parents should have some choices in vaccinating their children.