Amid a firestorm over some potential 2016 candidates’ statements about vaccinations, Jeb Bush offered a succinct response when asked about the issue Wednesday.
“Parents ought to make sure their children are vaccinated,” he said.
After applause, Bush added: “Do we need to get into any detail about that? Look, I’ve done this. I’ve said things that are misinterpreted or partially interpreted or – you know – heads explode and all sorts of media create all this controversy. And I think it’s better just to say parents have a responsibility to make sure their children are protected.”
Bush spoke about the issue during a question and answer session after remarks at the Detroit Economic Club.
Rand Paul and Chris Christie -- who, like Bush, are eyeing presidential runs –- have been criticized for suggesting that parents should have a choice about whether or not to vaccinate their children.
Christie issued a statement Monday clarifying that “vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated.” Paul took issue with journalists’ characterization of remarks in which he appeared to link vaccinations with “profound mental disorders,” and he tweeted a photo of receiving a booster shot for vaccinations on Tuesday.