Delta Airlines lying about vaccinations

[Archae]

All the more reason to boycott Delta.

Delta Airlines playing misleading vaccination "infomercial."

Delta Airlines has begun running a 3-minute video message that subtly
discourages people from receiving the flu vaccine by ignoring the
seriousness of the flu and referring viewers to the National Vaccine
Information Center (NVIC) Web site. Public health agencies estimate
that each year the flu kills up to 49,000 people in the U.S. and
500,000 people worldwide, with up to 5 million serious cases. The
NVIC video recommends washing hands and covering the mouth and nose
while coughing and sneezing. These actions can reduce the spread of
infection. However, vaccination is more important, but the video does
not encourage its use. For example, while wrongly asserting that
attention to vitamin C and D intake is an important preventive
strategy, the video merely describes flu shots as "another option."
Overall, NVIC discourages the use of vaccination by downplaying
benefits and exaggerating risks. The video has aroused a storm of
protest:

**Hippocrates Speaks has posted a detailed analysis of the video.
http://silencedbyageofautism.blogspot.com/2011/11/little-bit-of-poison-in-sweet-inviting.html

**Respectful Insolence Blog has labeled the message an example of
"misinformed consent."
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/11/vaccine_injury_awareness_week_joe_mercol.php

**Skepchick provides additional analysis plus detailed instructions
on how to protest by phone and email.
http://skepchick.org/2011/11/i-flu-delta-an-action-alert/

**More than 1,200 people have signed a petition asking Delta to stop
displaying the NVIC's infomercial.
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-delta-to-stop-putting-their-passengers-health-at-risk

[rocktivity]

1. What stake does an airline have in all this?

:shrug:
rocktivity

[dtexdem]

2. I would think that they would want travelers on their planes to be vaccinated.

Think about spending hours in a metal can with flu sufferers.

And just the down time with the flu of airline employees, especially stewards, would constitute a cost to the airline.

Given that, I can only conclude that this is ideologically driven, ignoring good business interests.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Got my flu shot today

three weeks before I get on the tin can to visit my folks. My father's already dying of liver cancer, he sure as hell doesn't need a bout of the flu in his final days. Nor does my Mom, who takes care of him.

[MountainLaurel]

7. Funny you should mention that

A friend of mine who is a flight attendant with Delta was diagnosed with whooping cough this fall, presumably contracted at work.

[Tesha]

4. They get paid to run the ad? (NT)

[Archae]

5. I'm trying to figure this out too.

You'd think Delta would be advocating *FOR* vaccinations.

Maybe Delta has a vested interest in people getting sick.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. What crazy ideology...

Oh never mind...anti vaxers are crazy in a non charming way.

[AngkorWot]

8. So... I should avoid Delta because they have a video that does not sufficiently promote vaccines?

This is like that time I boycotted Hertz Rent-a-car for writing that period romance novel but failing to properly credit the role of the Australians in the Crimean War.