The Media and Vaccines

Nicely done article in the November 2008 Parenting magazine about vaccines.

http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Health/Vaccines-Fact-and-Fiction

It uses anecdotes to lay out potential parental concerns, then addresses each in an evidence-based way.

It bothers me when other media coverage of this topic gives parental passion equal weight to scientific evidence. Gary Schwitzer, in his blog, gives kudos to Dr. Nancy Snyderman for standing up to Matt Lauer for doing just that.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27453507#27453507

Now we have at least a half generation's worth of vulnerable population, just because the emotional appeal has led some parents to refuse vaccinating their kids. It worries me when I see the "Pieces of Flair" application of Facebook, a social networking site, sporting more anti-vaccine buttons than pro-vaccine buttons.

I empathize with parents dealing with autism, and I have friends and relatives in that situation. But the evidence does not support vaccines as the cause. The anti-vaccine camp's firmly held beliefs and outspoken nature have a tendency to endanger public health.