Already have an account?
Get back to the

Jenny McCarthy Fires Back at Critics in New Column: “I Am Not Anti-Vaccine” and “Every Child Is Different”

Jenny McCarthy fired back at critics in a column: Not anti-vaccine
Jenny McCarthy fired back at critics in a column published Saturday, April 12, and wrote, "I am not 'anti-vaccine.'"

Jenny McCarthy is okay with the gray. In a Chiacgo Sun-Times column published Saturday, April 12, the View cohost explains how her controversial anti-vaccination stance has neither changed nor evolved — it's just that she's always been in the gray zone.

"I am not 'anti-vaccine,'" McCarthy, 41, writes in the opening line of her piece. "This is not a change in my stance nor is it a new position that I have recently adopted. For years, I have repeatedly stated that I am, in fact, 'pro-vaccine' and for years I have been wrongly branded as 'anti-vaccine.'"

Related: PHOTOS: Jenny's best bikini moments

"My beautiful son, Evan, inspired this mother to question the 'one size fits all' philosophy of the recommended vaccine schedule," McCarthy continues. The View cohost, whose 11-year-old son Evan has autism, has argued for years that certain early childhood vaccines have been linked to the developmental disorder in children.

McCarthy first voiced her opinion during a controversial appearance back in April 2008 on Larry King Live. And just last month, the TV personality was slammed during a Twitter conversation by fans claiming the star was anti-vaccination, during an unrelated topic.

Related: PHOTOS: Biggest talk show controversies ever!

"What happened to critical thinking? What happened to asking questions because every child is different?" McCarthy asks of media outlets posting about her anti-vaccine stance. "I embarked on this quest not only for myself and my family, but for countless parents who shared my desire for knowledge that could lead to options and alternate schedules, but never to eliminate the vaccines."

The actress adds, "For my child, I asked for a schedule that would allow one shot per visit instead of the multiple shots they were and still are giving infants." She adds in her list of vaccination "beliefs": "I believe in the importance of a vaccine program and I believe parents have the right to choose one poke per visit. I’ve never told anyone to not vaccinate. Should a child with the flu receive six vaccines in one doctor visit? Should a child with a compromised immune system be treated the same way as a robust, healthy child? Shouldn’t a child with a family history of vaccine reactions have a different plan? Or at least the right to ask questions?"

McCarthy says she is not discounting conversations about improving healthcare of young children and future generations. "This is an extremely important discussion and I am dumbfounded that these conversations are discounted and negated because the answers are not black or white," she writes.

The star concludes her piece by simply stating, "One size does not fit all." She adds, "God help us all if gray is no longer an option."

Tell Us: What are your thoughts on McCarthy's latest statements?

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!