Vaccine deniers: Inside the dumb, dangerous new fad

[Redfairen]

In San Francisco’s upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood, some 200 students from kindergarten to the eighth grade attend classes at the private San Francisco Waldorf School. On any given afternoon outside of the cheerful, modern white building, parents congregate to wait for their kids. Chit-chat includes the typical fodder like play dates and birthdays, or who was cast in the school play. But occasionally the topic of illness arises — which is where things can take a turn towards the atypical. You might, for instance, hear about “chicken pox parties,” where healthy kids come over to sick kids’ houses to catch the disease.

Of course, there’s a vaccine for chicken pox. It’s been available since 1995, and is part of every state’s recommended vaccine schedule, which the majority of US children receive. But SF Waldorf represents an unusual population: only 35 percent of incoming kindergarteners are up to date on all their vaccinations, one of the lowest rates in San Francisco for a school of its size and vastly lower than the national average of 95 percent. Which puts SF Waldorf firmly in the crosshairs of a national debate.

A vast minority of parents across the country, around 1.8 percent, opt out of vaccines by citing either religious or philosophical reasons. And these non-vaccinators have, in recent years, been the subject of intense media scrutiny. In part, you can blame a former Playboy bunny: Jenny McCarthy, who ABC recently hired as a new host on The View, has waged an ardent, vocal campaign against “toxins” in vaccines that she believes were responsible for causing her son’s autism.

Recent outbreaks of preventable illnesses have only added more fuel to the fire. This year, 16 states have reported cases of measles, making 2013 the second worst year for the disease since 2000. In August, the illness struck 21 people linked to a single Texas megachurch that eschewed vaccinations. And just last week, a new study concluded that vaccine refusals were largely to blame for a 2010 outbreak of whooping cough in California.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/10/21/4767530/vaccine-deniers-inside-the-dumb-dangerous-new-fad

[jsr]

1. Recommend

[freshwest]

3. I remember us all getting chickenpox, measles and mumps in the fifties. I've since been informed

that the MMR vaccine these people are resisting is for more serious forms of these than what we had then.

I came out of all three without any problems but learned that chickenpox stays in the body and creates shingles later in life. So the vaccine, if it had been available then may have prevented this happening.

When the polio vaccine came out, no one objected as we saw kids in our schools who had the disease. We lined up and got it at public school along with TB shots.

I think these people are not up to date on what these vaccines are, or been listening to Bircher type conspiracy programs. like Infowars. The churched ones think they are going to be microchipped or as they say, given the mark of the beast.

Or given cancer inside the shot, made sterile, etc. to kill them. They really say this stuff.

I don't know how to combat this as they are afraid of the government that recommends these and the pharmaceutical corporations manufacturing the vaccines. Mistrust of all authority is a popular thing and healthy in some ways, but I don't know how to get through.

They believe they know the truth and call anyone who says differently an authoritarian or brainwashed sheeple or lackey.

Any suggestions?

[Jefferson23]

4. A percentage of the anti virus focus came out of fear there was causation of sorts with the onset

of Autism. Despite the evidence suggesting otherwise, a great deal of fear was instilled
which crossed political party lines. I believe it was Congressman Dan Burtin, Republican, who
was on board b/c he was convinced his grandson developed the disorder due to vaccines.

There are a host of representative who created doubt and suspicion, sadly. We need, evidently,
a PR campaign more vigorous than we have now.

I heard recently in the news, about cases of measles.

Measles case identified at Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack, officials say
http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/measles-case-identified-at-palisades-center-mall-in-west-nyack-officials-say-1.6990232


How Vaccine Fears Fueled The Resurgence Of Preventable Diseases

by Michaeleen Doucleff January 25, 2014 1:13 PM

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/01/25/265750719/how-vaccine-fears-fueled-the-resurgence-of-preventable-diseases

[Rozlee]

5. It's not just the kooks that fear autism and other neurological complications.

Some factions in the anti-choice community are also refusing to take vaccines that they believe are being created from 'ground up' fetuses. It's true that some vaccines were created from human fetal diploid cells such as varicella, Hepatitis A, rubella and the rabies vacc. But, I believe it was only two or three aborted fetuses back in the 50's and 60's, but you can't convince those idiots that. They're certain that abortion mills are grinding up 'babies' to this day to make vaccines. They don't seem to realize that the original cell lines can replicate indefinitely with the proper nutrients and be virtually immortal. Just about every church and religious organization has given its members permission to vaccinate, but a few anti-choice fanatics out there refuse.

[Jefferson23]

6. I did not know about the ground up fetuses scare...yikes! Sad and crazy talk.

I do recall one of the alleged TV church leaders walk back about the claim about vaccines.

Pardon my DailyMail link:

Texas megachurch run by vaccine-denying preacher battles measles outbreak which has contaminated 21 congregation members

n a recent sermon posted online, senior pastor Terri Pearsons encouraged those who haven't been vaccinated to do so, adding that the Old Testament is 'full of precautionary measures.'

'I would encourage you to do that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. Go do it. Go do it. Go do it. And go in faith,' said Pearsons.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403743/Measles-outbreak-Texas-megachurch-run-vaccine-denying-preacher-Kenneth-Copeland.html