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A six-year-old Italian boy suffering from leukemia has died after complications from a bout of measles, and the death has reignited a hot debate about
vaccinations in the country. He reportedly caught the measles from an older sibling that the parents had decided not to vaccinate, despite the fact
that the leukemia had already compromised their younger son’s immune system.
“Asking for freedom not to vaccinate your children is like asking for the freedom to travel on a highway at 300 km/h. It’s dangerous not only for yourself
and your passengers but also for others,” said immunologist Roberto Burioni.
Italy’s health minister Beatrice Lorenzin said science and medicine had to be respected, and Burioni has been behind a social media campaign
criticising the anti-vaxxer movement.
“I think the first thing to do is to act against doctors who spread false and dangerous information. These doctors must be banned, a doctor shouldn’t
provide their patients with dangerous information for them and others,” added Burioni.
One hundred and thirty anti-vaxxer families in northern Italy recently said they would seek asylum in Austria to avoid new compulsory vaccination.