The toll of Pro-disease quacks, and their legions of trolls

[Benuty]

Aaron Carroll today offers a graphic depiction of the toll of the anti-vaccination movement. (H/t: Kevin Drum.) It comes from a Council on Foreign Relations interactive map of "vaccine-preventable outbreaks" worldwide 2008-2014..

A couple of manifestations stand out. One is the prevalence of measles in Europe -- especially Britain -- and the U.S. Measles is endemic in the underdeveloped world because of the unavailability of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

But in the developed world it's an artifact of the anti-vaccination movement, which has associated the vaccine with autism. That connection, promoted by the discredited British physician Andrew Wakefield and the starlet Jenny McCarthy, has been thoroughly debunked. But its effects live on, as the map shows.

Vaccine panic also plays a role in the shocking incidence in the U.S. of whooping cough, also beatable by a common vaccine. Researchers have pointed to the effect of "non-medical exemptions" from legally required whooping cough immunizations -- those premised on personal beliefs rather than medical reasons -- as a factor in a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.


These manifestations underscore the folly and irresponsibility of giving credence to anti-vaccination fanatics, as Katie Couric did on her network daytime TV show in December. We examined the ethics of that ratings stunt here and here.

Among other worthwhile examinations of the impact of the anti-vaxxers, see this piece about growing up unvaccinated in Great Britain in the 1970s, and this disturbing piece by Julia Ioffe about her battle with whooping cough, a disease no American should have.

The lesson of all this is that vaccination is not an individual choice to be made by a parent for his or her own offspring. It's a public health issue, because the diseases contracted by unvaccinated children are a threat to the community. That's what public health is all about, and an overly tolerant approach to non-medical exemptions -- and publicity given to anti-vaccination charlatans like Wakefield and McCarthy by heedless promoters like, sadly, Katie Couric, affect us all.

Carroll, who assembles the relevant papers and documents on the MMR/Autism sophistry here, deserves the last word. "Vaccinate your kids," he writes. "Please."

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik ... story.html

Opinion: I dedicate this one to noted cancer quack, vaccine fear monger, and noted so called "skeptic" Bill Maher....asshole.

Personal feelings aside concerning my internet arch-nemesis. I knew the issue was bad yet this is amazingly ridiculous especially the fact the movement has not died with the death of the so called "Vaccine causes Autism" theory reported by so called "doctor" Andrew Wakefield who was stripped of his title. Unfortunately he managed to flee to Texas (somehow someone thought it was a good idea) to avoid possible charges/suits.
Really not that hard to wonder why though.

On that note what say you oh unleavened, and unleavened masses of NSG?

[Zanubiyala]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

[Geilinor]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Many medicines are derived from plants.

[Threlizdun]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Please be a shitty joke. Please be a shitty joke. Please be a shitty joke.

[Benuty]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Appeal to nature is a fallacy, besides how do you think medicine got its start?

By humans testing out certain natural substances (albeit crudely at first) to see if they had any medical merit.

Also faith healing is bunk ( I am saying this as a strong theist).

[Glorious ReBublic of Alevstan]

Uurgh. I hate anti-vaccination supporters. (For reasons listed in OP.)

[Benuty]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Many medicines are derived from plants.

I really do not like being ninja'd...especially by a simpler answer .

[Benuty]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Please be a shitty joke. Please be a shitty joke. Please be a shitty joke.

I really wish it was.

[Ulrenon]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Well fuck that guy for not listening to people when the black plague rolled around.

[Othelos]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

feel free to swallow a plant or rub it on your body as you whither away, while the rest of us don't die from easily preventable diseases because we got vaccinated.

[Tongola]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Good luck with that one mate...

[The Orson Empire]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Appeal to nature is a fallacy, besides how do you think medicine got its start?

By humans testing out certain natural substances (albeit crudely at first) to see if they had any medical merit.

Also faith healing is bunk ( I am saying this as a strong theist).

Faith healing is pointless. While I do believe in prayer, I also believe that God wants us to use our common sense. If there is a vaccine, then take it. It is just idiotic not to take it, as you are going to get sick.

[Gauthier]

Anti vaccination would be Darwinism in action if the diseases actually infected the assholes promoting anti-vaccination instead of innocent kids.

[Benuty]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Well fuck that guy for not listening to people when the black plague rolled around.

As with Thucycdides report on the Athenian plague of which he stated "Do not blame the God's for it blame the conditions". The bubonic plague was caused by lack of understanding of hygiene when it came to over cramped & dirty cities infested with rats who were often infested with plague carrying fleas. Of-course this plague kill far more people in terms of perspective.

[Farnhamia]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Well fuck that guy for not listening to people when the black plague rolled around.

Sorry, what? During the Plague there was no modern concept of disease.

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

feel free to swallow a plant or rub it on your body as you whither away, while the rest of us don't die from easily preventable diseases because we got vaccinated.

Whither away, indeed.

[The Orson Empire]

I am anti-vaccination, God made natural cures (herbs, spices, plants, ect,ect) in addition to prayer

Well fuck that guy for not listening to people when the black plague rolled around.

Then again, people had no concept or disease or hygiene back then. After all, this was a time period when people believed disease was caused by "bad air".

[Benuty]

Well fuck that guy for not listening to people when the black plague rolled around.

Then again, people had no concept or disease or hygiene back then. After all, this was a time period when people believed disease was caused by "bad air".

Ah yes, thankfully the theory of Miasma was demonstrated false during the Cholera outbreak in London thanks to a doctor & clergyman who interfered with a contaminated water pump.

[Benuty]

Anti vaccination would be Darwinism in action if the diseases actually infected the assholes promoting anti-vaccination instead of innocent kids.

They sometimes do (measles outbreak in church that promotes the idea of Anti-vaccination).

[Carbon based lifeforms]

Vaccination is a prime example of the fact that everyone has a responsibility towards the community. Personal freedom is not unlimited unless you live all by yourself on a distant planet.

In other words, antivaxers should either get vaccinated or move to a distant planet.

[South Pacific Republic]

Anti vaccination would be Darwinism in action if the diseases actually infected the assholes promoting anti-vaccination instead of innocent kids.

Meanwhile in a perfect world...

[The Orson Empire]

Then again, people had no concept or disease or hygiene back then. After all, this was a time period when people believed disease was caused by "bad air".

Ah yes, thankfully the theory of Miasma was demonstrated false during the Cholera outbreak in London thanks to a doctor & clergyman who interfered with a contaminated water pump.

Indeed. Thank God for scientific advancements.

[Empire of Narnia]

I always get the vaccines. If they were not safe the government would not allow them to be given out. They do have safety tests for a reason after all.

[Oceanic Vakiadia]

To be anti-vaccination is to be anti-humanity.

[Farnhamia]

I always get the vaccines. If they were not safe the government would not allow them to be given out. They do have safety tests for a reason after all.

And it's odd that after the mercury compound in the MMR vaccine that was supposed to be causing autism was eliminated autism diagnosis rates kept rising. Funny, huh?

[United Marxist Nations]

Why is being anti-vaxx an option? Make vaccination compulsory, educate people on the ways vaccines have saved hundreds of millions (if not billions) of lives.