Currents News Staff
Ethan Lindenberger’s teen rebellion made headlines last year. On Tuesday he shared his story with Senators.
“My name is Ethan Lindenberger, and I’m a senior Norwalk High School, and my mother is an anti-vax advocate. I went my entire life without numerous vaccinations against diseases such as measles, chicken pox, and polio. However in December of 2018, I began catching up on my missed immunizations, despite my mother’s disapproval,” he said.
The hearing comes amid an increase in measles cases in the U.S., including recent outbreaks in Washington state and New York, and around the world.
Also, on the rise, according to a CDC report last year, the percentage of young children receiving no vaccines.
Senators dug into the spread of common fears and misinformation – especially via social media.
A study published Monday also rejects that idea, looking at around 650,000 children in Denmark over more than a decade, and finding the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, did not increase the risk of autism.
Despite his new platform Ethan Lindenberger hasn’t swayed opinions at home.
“I have tried to convey to my parents, that I don’t think they are stupid for believing it but that people are very convincing and that’s very dangerous,” he said.
He’s caught up on his vaccinations, but has expressed concern, about his younger siblings who have not.