I want to share a chronology of events with you:

On 9/5/08, then Senator Obama said, on the campaign trail, “I don’t believe in selective vaccination.”

On 9/1/09, President Obama said, “All Americans should get the swine flu vaccine.”

On 9/3/09, Obama’s regulatory agency, the CDC, said, “Children with medical issues should get H1N1 vaccine first.”

On 9/4/09, the CDC further said, “All children age 6 months and older should receive pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine when it becomes available.”

On 9/20/09, Obama tells CNN’s John King that the Obama family will wait in line , like everyone else.  When Health Secretary Sebelius and CDC Head Frieden tell them that it’s their turn, they will get their H1N1 vaccines.

On 10/7/09, Obama’s Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, “All Americans should get swine flu vaccination.”  She unconditionally vouched for the safety of the vaccine.

All statements above are consistent with President Obama’s position in support of a very heavy government hand when it comes to immunization.

But what are we to make of this announcement?

On 10/8/09, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that Obama’s girls are not vaccinated against swine flu, that the vaccine is not available to them based on their risk.

Gibbs doesn’t elaborate, so we can’t infer the reasons why.  I doubt he’s saying that the vaccine is too risky.  I’m guessing he’s saying that the girls have an underlying medical condition that prevents them from getting the shot.

Let’s see if I got this straight.

Candidate Obama doesn’t believe in vaccination choice.  He believes in vaccine mandates for American children as a requirement for daycare and school admission.

President Obama tells all Americans to get the swine flu shot.  His own regulatory agency says that all kids should get the shot: kids with medical problems, and kids who are well.  His Health Secretary unconditionally vouches for the safety of the vaccines and reiterates her boss’s exhortation: all Americans should get the shot.

The next day, Obama’s own Press Secretary tells America that the nation’s First Daughters aren’t getting the swine flu vaccine.

Anyone else having a problem with this?

Our Commander-in-Chief is caught in a supreme conundrum.  He has gone on the record saying he doesn’t believe in selective vaccination.  That means, he does not support the personal belief exemption.  That means, he believes all people should get all recommended shots.  The swine flu vaccine is one doozy of a recommended shot.  Officials are falling over themselves to say as much.  The media has fallen in line, telling us to “get the damn vaccine” and “it’s safe, safe, safe.”

So what’s this?  Daddy Obama is exercising vaccination choice for his children?  Could there be legitimate reasons for his girls to vary from a one-size fits all vaccination program?  He owes the American people an explanation.  And it better be a good one.

10/30/09 - Note from Louise: The White House announced on October 27 that the president’s daughters received the H1N1 vaccine after it became available to Washington DC schoolchildren.  There was no mention whether the girls received the multi-dose version with the mercury-based preservative, thimerosal, or the pre-filled syringe without it.