![Chris Christie Chris Christie](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/chris-christie.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Monday that the government should “balance” parent choice and public health when it comes to measles vaccinations, in comments that broke with President Barack Obama—and prevailing science on the issue. His office quickly walked back the comments and said Christie believes “there is no question kids should be vaccinated.”
The initial comment from the 2016 Republican presidential contender came during remarks to reporters in England, the Washington Post reports, and follows news that a measles outbreak in the United States has infected more than 100 people in 14 states.
“Mary Pat and I have had our children vaccinated and we think that it’s an important part of being sure we protect their health and the public health,” Christie said. “I also understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well, so that’s the balance that the government has to decide.”
MORE: Meet the Latest Driver of the Anti-Vaccine Clown Car
Christie’s office later sought to clarify his remarks and sent reporters a full transcript showing that Christie made a point not to side with vaccination skeptics when asked if he thinks the shots are dangerous.
“I didn’t say that,” Christie said, according to the transcript. “I said different disease types can be more lethal so that the concern would be measuring whatever the perceived danger is by vaccine and we’ve had plenty of that over a period of time versus what the risk to public health is and you have to have that balance and that’s exactly what I mean by what I said.”
“The Governor believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated,” Christie’s office said. “At the same time different states require different degrees of vaccination, which is why he was calling for balance in which ones government should mandate.”
See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential
![Values Voters Summit Values Voters Summit](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-ted-cruz.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![USA - Hillary Clinton speaks at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry USA - Hillary Clinton speaks at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-hillary-clinton.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Jeb Bush Jeb Bush](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-jeb-bush.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sen. Bernie Sanders Launches Presidential Bid In Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Launches Presidential Bid In Vermont](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/bernie-sanders.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Political Theatre Political Theatre](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-chris-christie.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Former Hewlett-Packard Co CEO Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/carly-fiorina3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Georgia Senate Candidate David Perdue Campaigns With Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) Georgia Senate Candidate David Perdue Campaigns With Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-rand-paul.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Rick Perry Rick Perry](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-rick-perry.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Bobby Jindal Bobby Jindal](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-bobby-jindal.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Martin O'Malley Martin O'Malley](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-martin-omalley.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Marco Rubio Marco Rubio](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-marco-rubio.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ben Carson Ben Carson](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-ben-carson.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Barack Obama, Jim Webb Barack Obama, Jim Webb](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-jim-webb.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![John Kasich, Election John Kasich, Election](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-john-kasich.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Conservative Political Action Conference Conservative Political Action Conference](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-rick-santorum.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Scott Walker Scott Walker](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-scott-walker.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-candidate-mike-huckabee.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Former Rhode Island Governor Chafee poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination to be U.S. president during an address to the GMU School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs in Arlington Former Rhode Island Governor Chafee poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination to be U.S. president during an address to the GMU School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs in Arlington](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lincoln-chafee-selfie.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![FILE: Lindsey Graham To Run For President FILE: Lindsey Graham To Run For President](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lindsey-graham.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![File photo of former New York governor Pataki listening to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. Pataki on May 28, 2015 entered the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, joining a crowded field of candidates vying to retake the White House for their party. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/Files](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/george-pataki.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
Anti-vaccination activists say the shots can lead to autism and other conditions, but the overwhelming scientific consensus says that’s not the case. Christie’s statement came the day after Obama called on parents to vaccinate their children.
“The science is, you know, pretty indisputable,” Obama told NBC News. “We’ve looked at this again and again. There is every reason to get vaccinated, but there aren’t reasons to not.”
Christie struck a notably different public health stance at the height of the Ebola fears in the U.S., forcibly quarantining a nurse who had returned from treating patients in Africa despite her testing negative for the virus—and also against the advice of public health experts.
Christie is traveling to England on a trade mission that is largely seen as an attempt to boost his foreign policy credentials ahead of a likely 2016 run.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com