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Sun-Times Anesthetized by Health Bureaucrats
By CHUCK NOVAK *
A neighborhood-based news reporter in Chicago
"Kids unprotected against measles," blares the headline over a June 11 news article in the Sun-Times. The story goes on to quote the "shocked and distressed" President of the Chicago Board of Health, as well as the Chicago Department of Public Health Immunization Program Director, who hints that a deadly measles epidemic is just around the corner in the city.
But wait. Before you shutter your windows, cancel home delivery of your favorite newspaper, pack up the kids and head for the hills, do something the Sun-Times failed to do: cast a critical eye on whole situation and see if city health officials' claims hold up.
First, what is measles? The Sun-Times story gives most of the basic facts about the illness, including the very real possibility of measles causing disabilities and even death, but fails to note that for the vast majority of kids who become ill, measles is little more than a routine childhood disease that comes and goes, like chickenpox. But why ruin a good tale?
Second, the story's prediction of an approaching epidemic hinges on a survey finding that "26 percent of children under age 3 (in Chicago's inner-city neighborhood of Englewood) have not been vaccinated for measles." This percentage is described by the Sun-Times as a "distressingly low" vaccination rate.
But is it? A check of basic immunization literature, including the federal Centers for Disease Control website, essentially shows that to avoid epidemics, you need to have a vaccination rate of at least 70 percent. When you vaccinate that share of any population (human or animal), you reach a state called "herd immunity," in which those individuals vaccinated are protected by vaccine, and the unvaccinated are protected by their small share of the group; that is, disease-causing viruses and bacteria simply can't find enough unvaccinated hosts in which to thrive and spread. So the flipside of the "distressing" news that 26 percent of Englewood toddlers haven't received their measles shot, is the good news that 74 percent have. That, along with even higher rates of immunization among kids in most other Chicago neighborhoods, explains why, in a city of three million, measles case numbers have been in single digits since 1991, with not even one case since 1997.
The Sun-Times did note that "the federal government" recommends that the measles vaccination rate reach and remain at 90 percent; but the story neglects to note that 90 percent is, in fact, the accepted threshold for complete elimination of disease, not the threshold for preventing epidemics.
Further, the article did mention the Chicago area's measles epidemic of 1989-90, in which, measles was contracted by more than 4,200 people---about one-third of one percent of whom (15 people) died. The Sun-Times article explains that the epidemic was caused by "low vaccination rates." Now, compare that term with the Sun-Times' description of 2001's "distressingly low vaccination rates" and it's easy to see how a reader could agree with the paper's prediction of a coming epidemic. But a key fact not reported in the story (what, again?) is that the citywide immunization rate in 1988 was only 27 percent, as opposed to the 2001 rate of 74 percent in Englewood.
So, understand the basic concept of herd immunity, compare the two rates, and it's easy to see why we had a measles epidemic 12 years ago and no cases at all now. No layman could be expected to know that upfront, of course, but isn't it the job of the Sun-Times health reporter to know this stuff and explain it to readers in simple terms?
OK, you might say, even if all that is true, why would prominent public health officials mislead a Sun-Times reporter on an important child health topic?
The answer may be found in the fact that the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine was in town June 15-16 and needed some pre-convention headlines to drum up support for their current demand that the U.S. Congress allocates an additional $1.5 billion for child vaccination services. Go to their website at nas.edu and see for yourself how they crow about using their "immunization studies" to strong-arm $42 million out of the Congress in 2000, despite their admission that there are currently "record levels of vaccination in the United States."
The bottom line is this: bureaucrats, whether found ensconced in scientific think tanks or nestled in public health agencies, need to keep the dollars flowing to keep their positions and perks. The surest way to do that is to ring the alarm bell and claim that a crisis is either upon us or is imminent. The rest of us, not knowing the details and trusting in their expertise, routinely open the public checkbook to give them mainly what they want.
We rely on the Fourth Estate to keep them honest by scrutinizing their claims. But on June 11, we couldn't rely on the Sun-Times.
Ponce Puff Piece
By: A. FREEMAN
The Tuesday June 19th Edition of Chicago Tonight was unusual, instead of a roundtable discussion with locals about O'Hare or some other local controversy the viewers got to see one on one discussion with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Unfortunately his appearance would've more honestly been billed a book promo than an interview.
The other talking head, Phil Ponce, is practiced at having his way with local figures. He was completely out of his league when trying to talk policy with old pro Kissinger. Ponce had the same look of adoration on his face as a small boy has for his father. An outline on foreign affairs from Kissinger is a treat, and the book he's selling, (flashed on the screen several times) which contains a full explanation on his points, is probably worth its price. Sadly the Ponce did not bring up another book, Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchins, or any other questions relating to its thesis that Kissinger is a war criminal. Kissinger obviously doesn't want to give this book any publicity. He's probably talking up small, easily impressed, media outlets into giving him interviews on certain conditions. By not bringing up other's views on this controversial figure, and still calling it an interview, Network Chicago did their viewers a disservice.
Brown Kicks Ass
By: JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Why don't more journalists work as hard as Mark Brown? On Wednesday, he broke the story about Chicago Firefighters filling a swimming pool. Other news organizations picked it up but conveniently failed to credit Brown with making the story public.
Oh, well.
Sure, Brown got a tip on the story so he didn't really "work" hard at it, but he did have the tenacity to get his ass to the scene and witness the clean-up.
Bravo.
In a short time as the page 2 columnist, Mark Brown has proved himself one of Chicago Media's biggest talents.
Lack of Follow-up Renders Great Story Irrelevant
By: JOHN F. KUCZAJ
In a perfect news world, the top story in Sunday's Sun-Times would become a huge issue on all TV & Radio stations as well as both newspapers. The police and the Secretary of State's office would be shamed into action and the Illinois General Assembly would get their noses out of the pork and actually do something useful.
You Are Not To Drive! exposed the worst-kept secret in law enforcement - People who have their drivers licenses suspended continue to drive! Well, that's not REALLY the worst-kept secret-the worst-kept secret is that our state lawmakers don't give a flying funk about it and don't blink when suspended drivers cause fatalities on the road.
That's why George Ryan didn't do much as Secretary of State-all the bloated state lawmakers (are they ALL hideously obese, or is it just me?) accept that dangerous, unlicensed drivers are on the road.
As I said, in a perfect world, all the news media would take this public-interest story to the next level, causing some action from the slugs in Springfield.
Excellent article by the Sun-Times, but even they failed to follow up.
Remember…driving is a privilege, not a right!
(sound of uncontrollable, gut busting laughter from state lawmaker as a family of five is run-down by driver with suspended license.)
Tsk-tsk.
Self-Serving/Self-indulgent News
By: JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Bulletin! Bulletin! Bulletin!
On page 3 of Wednesday's Sun-Times, we find out some important information about Richard Roeper -- He's a Certified Hottie.
Important news of this magnitude should be on page one!
Stop the presses...I need to vomit!
I think the Sun-Times is overestimating the popularity of Roeper and underestimating his gag factor.
Anyway, the story was about how he's in the new issue of People magazine as one of the 100 (actually) 50 most eligible bachelors. I have an issue with that list, especially since I know a few very eligible bachelors that are much less annoying than Roeper…or maybe I'm just a little jealous.
My pitch: Ladies? Looking for someone who really likes to throw out the garbage? Someone who can perform great feats of strength? Someone who's not afraid to look goofy? Someone who cleans up pretty well? Just click on the e-mail link and drop me a line.
Aw, who am I kidding--I'm no Richard Roeper.
Score one for me!
Take a look at the previous issue: Monday, June 18
Take a look at the issue before that: Sunday, June 10
* Pseudonym
Published weekly...or so--usually on Friday.
If you'd like to contribute, e-mail your article to the editor
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