Ohio
Today in Ohio hosts blast anti-vaccine parents as Ohio’s kindergarten immunity drops again
Ohioans should be alarmed by the state’s growing vulnerability to preventable diseases, as Ohio’s vaccination rates for kindergartners have plummeted to dangerous levels, say the hosts of the Today in Ohio podcast.
In a lively discussion Wednesday’s episode ot the news discussion podcast, hosts said anti-science idiocy has persuaded parents to eschew proven vaccine technology..
“We are down to 85.4% of kids, kindergartners up to date on their vaccines for this school year. That’s down from 86% in the previous year,” said Laura Johnston. Vaccinations for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) dropped from 89% last year to 88.3% this year” compared to “about 92.5% in 2019-2020.
These numbers fall dangerously below the threshold needed for community protection against highly contagious diseases like measles.
“You have to be at 95% vaccination for herd immunity. We’re way below that,” emphasized Lisa Garvin.
Johnston explained the severity of the threat: “Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. It’s highly transmissible, spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, up to two hours, lingers after that sick person has left a room.”
The hosts didn’t shy away from connecting the vaccination decline to political polarization. Johnston noted that Ohio’s rates being “quite a bit underneath the national average” wasn’t surprising “when you look at how Trumpy this state is and how there’s… this idea. We don’t want to look at the science. We’ve somehow made vaccines partisan.”
Chris Quinn didn’t mince words about parents who avoid vaccinating their children: “You’re a moron. You could have avoided this with a simple embrace of solid, proven science instead of following your Facebook wacko friends down rabbit holes of anti-science nonsense.”
What makes measles particularly dangerous is not just its extreme contagiousness but its impact on the immune system. Quinn explained that measles “makes your body forget all of the bacteria and viruses you’ve had. So when you get them again, your immune system no longer is ready to block it.”
The podcast discussion highlighted how ideology has trumped public health in many communities, with alternative health misinformation spreading despite warnings from medical professionals. Even Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, head of Ohio’s health department and a DeWine appointee, has been fighting an uphill battle against misinformation.
“This is a Republican standing there saying vitamin A isn’t going to work… That’s not going to keep you from getting the measles. Go get vaccinated,” Johnston said.
For the full discussion about Ohio’s declining vaccination rates and the potential public health consequences, tune in to the Today in Ohio podcast, where cleveland.com journalists dive deep into the stories that matter most to Northeast Ohioans.
Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston.
Enjoy the snow games while you can, Browns fans.
The team has moved another step closer to building a new domed stadium in suburban Brook Park.
Via 92.3 The Fan, the Ohio Senate passed a budget on Wednesday that includes $600 million in state money for the Browns stadium.
The Senate’s plan borrows against the $1.7 billion pool of unclaimed funds. The House has proposed bonds, and the governor wants to increase gambling taxes.
Regardless, all three bodies agree that $600 million is the magic number for the state’s contribution.
Much more work needs to be done, including $600 million in local money. Along with a finding that the Art Modell Law doesn’t prevent the team from leaving Cleveland.
Ohio State has received a verbal commitment from Khary Wilder, a four-star defensive end from Southern California.
Wilder revealed his pledge on June 10, a little more than a week after taking his official visit to the school.
“Go Buckeyes,” he wrote in a post on X. “All Glory 2 God!!”
The addition helps the Buckeyes bolster the trenches, providing them with their first defensive lineman in the class of 2026.
Wilder, who attends Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, is the No. 242 overall prospect and No. 23 edge rusher in the class of 2026, according to composite rankings from 247Sports. While listed as 6 feet 4 and 260 pounds by recruiting services, he offers length as a pass rusher.
He appeared to move up on the Buckeyes’ recruiting board in rapid fashion this spring, receiving a scholarship offer last month. Georgia, Notre Dame and Washington also extended him offers in recent months.
Defensive line was the only position on defense that the Buckeyes did not have at least commitment in this cycle.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
Trump rescinds Biden-era emergency abortion care guidance
The Trump administration rescinded guidance clarifying that hospitals in abortion-ban states must treat pregnant patients during medical emergencies.
unbranded – Newsworthy
- The proposal, called the “She Wins Act,” comes after a judge blocked Ohio’s previous 24-hour waiting period law.
- Abortion rights advocates oppose the bill, arguing it violates the 2023 amendment guaranteeing reproductive rights and a judge’s ruling.
- The bill’s sponsors claim it aims to ensure patients have adequate information, not to circumvent the court’s decision.
Ohio Republicans want to reinstate a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, despite a judge’s order blocking it.
The proposal from Reps. Mike Odioso, R-Green Twp., and Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., would require doctors to provide patients seeking an abortion with information about the “physical and psychological risks” at least 24 hours before an abortion pill or procedure.
Patients would receive information about abortion risks and reviews of the physician providing it, Williams said. Patients could sue if they don’t receive this information in person, via phone, email or other means, according to a news release. Lawmakers are calling the bill the “She Wins Act.”
Abortion rights advocates say the proposal is at odds with a judge’s decision that blocked Ohio’s longtime 24-hour waiting period. The preliminary injunction came after Ohio voters approved a reproductive rights amendment in 2023.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Young cited the 2023 amendment in his ruling, which allowed providers to offer same-day abortions. In many cases, the waiting period extended beyond one day because of transportation challenges or other issues.
Williams said he isn’t trying to undermine that decision.
“This is not an attempt to go around the court or even put our thumb on the scale,” Williams told the statehouse bureau. “This is an effort to make sure the patient is given adequate information to make a life-changing decision.”
But Abortion Forward Executive Director Kellie Copeland isn’t convinced.
“This whole proposal is bizarre,” Copeland said. “Ohio had a medically unnecessary 24-hour waiting period before the passage of the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment. It has been ruled unconstitutional by the courts and blocked from enforcement. Politicians like Reps. Josh Williams and Mike Odioso clearly do not care about the law or what is best for patients.”
The bill is in the early stages and hasn’t yet been assigned to a House committee for review.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
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