Pete Buttigieg backtracks on vaccine exception claims

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Pete Buttigieg has backpedalled after expressing support for some religious and personal exemptions for vaccinations.

Mr Buttigieg, a 2020 presidential candidate, had released a statement through a spokesperson saying that he “does support some exceptions” to vaccinations, but not when there are emergencies.

“Pete does support some exceptions, except during a public health emergency to prevent outbreak,” the spokesperson told Buzzfeed on Tuesday.

“These exemptions include medical exemptions in all cases (as in cases where it is unsafe for the individual to get vaccinated), and personal/religious exemptions if states can maintain local herd immunity and there is no public health crisis.”

The statement was amended on Wednesday to say that Mr Buttigieg only believes in medical exemptions for the procedure.

“Pete believes vaccines are safe and effective and are necessary to maintaining public health,” the spokesperson said in a clarifying statement.

The statement continued: “There is no evidence that vaccines are unsafe, and he believes children should be immunised to protect their health. He is aware that in most states the law provides for some kinds of exemptions. He believes only medical exemptions should be allowed.”

The question was raised after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released a report declaring that the US is experiencing its largest measles outbreak since the disease was said to have been eliminated in 2000. The CDC said there have been more than 700 cases reported in 22 states.

The outbreak has led most Democratic presidential candidates to say that they support vaccinations unequivocally. The recent outbreak has even forced Donald Trump — who had previously falsely declared that the medical measure can cause autism — to call vaccines important.

“They have to get the shots,” Mr Trump said. “Th vaccinations are so important. This is really going around now. They have to get their shots.”