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The Republican presidential primary caught a case of the measles this week.

Republicans who would prefer to be aiming their fire at President Obama and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton instead found themselves debating whether or not parents should have to vaccinate their children for measles and where to draw the line between public health and parental choice.

It all came against the backdrop of a measles outbreak that has passed 100 cases in the U.S. and amid scientific consensus on the issue that has long since been settled in favor of vaccination. Republican House Speaker John Boehner weighed in himself on Tuesday, saying that all children ought to be vaccinated.

Im a little shocked that we are having a discourse about the efficacy of vaccinations, said John Weaver, a moderate Republican strategist often critical of the partys conservative wing. Its a shocking development. Our party has a reputation thats grown as being anti-science, and now were going to be anti-public health?

The political outbreak started Monday when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, traveling in England, said the government should balance public health and parental choice.

Mary Pat and I have had our children vaccinated and we think that its an important part of being sure we protect their health and the public health, the Republican said. I also understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well, so thats the balance that the government has to decide.

But Christies comments prompted a quick backlashand an almost-as-quick retreat from his office, which said Christie believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated.

MORE: Chris Christies Terrible Vaccine Advice

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sensing an opening to project the libertarian-leaning philosophy he hopes to ride to the nomination, jumped at the chance to part with Christie, an establishment-friendly rival with whom he has often feuded.

Im not anti-vaccine at all, Paul said during a radio interview, but particularly, most of them ought to be voluntary. I think there are times in which there can be some rules, but for the first part it ought to be voluntary.

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Measles Vaccinations Roil Republican Presidential Race