At first I wasn't going to write this post since I believe that a film that appears to be (at least in part) based on thoroughly discredited, fear-mongering nonsense should get as little attention as possible.
Then after browsing several anti-vaccine and conspiracist websites I found as I suspected, that this has already exploded and whatever I write here won't make matters any worse.
The film 'Vaxxed' is directed by Mr Andrew Wakefield, a former physician who lost his medical license after research that he had authored, was found fraudulent (containing as I understand it, both methodological and ethical flaws).
Just watching the trailer for this film elevated my BP into dangerous territory. How is it that this man keeps promoting the same debunked data to this day? Hasn't it caused enough harm already?
It seems that anti-vaccine proponents span the entire spectrum from sadly misinformed to clearly unhinged. However, no matter what their individual motivation happens to be, they are in my opinion dangerous. We have fought a hard battle against diseases that today are vaccine-preventable. Millions of children have died in the past and some still do, to this day. We don't see much of it in first-world countries due to the success of vaccines. Anti-vaccine proponents seem to believe that the "olden days" were better. I think it's deeply worrisome.
In my escapades around the internet, I've found all sorts of scary blogs, clips and opinions relating to childhood vaccines.
This YouTube clip rather amusingly (in a sad way) has 90 likes and zero (!) dislikes (probably because no rational person would even click on it in the first place). (I'm not sure what this says about me)
Anyway this women thinks that nagalese (an enzyme) is added on purpose to vaccines in order to induce autism, cancer and type 2 diabetes in vaccine recipients. And the doctors who discovered this were subsequently murdered to cover this up. This vaccine tampering seems to be a part of some nefarious population control plot.
(It seems that alpha-N-acetylgalactoseaminidase (referred to as nagalese in the YouTube clip) can deglycosylate vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and DBP plays a role in the immune cascade response. So it seems that alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase can interfere with the immune response. While some cancer cells can release alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, I've found no proof that injecting them into humans induces cancers, never mind autism and DMII. I will however admit that I didn't spend an inordinate amount of time researching her theory).
I admit that this last video is a bit extreme. But this woman and other "anti-vaxxers" have one thing on common. They are willing to accept something as true, even when there is no supporting evidence available.
Serious questions:
* Why are some people so vulnerable/susceptible to flawed logic and poor research?
* What can we as nurses/healthcare professionals do to ensure that our patients base their decisions on sound evidence-based facts or at least have the opportunity to do so? Or should we just reconcile ourselves with the fact that a portion of the population will base their decisions on questionable or outright false information, misconceptions and fear?
You wrote that you're not going to see the "VAXXED" film: "No, I'm not going to see it. Apparently it was rejected from the TriBeCa film festival. They don't want to see dreck either."
You do know what "dreck" means, right? It means feces. Perhaps you should make up your own mind, and not depend on "heresay", for your opinions? You could try to be brave, and see the film for yourself, and let us know what you think, AFTER you view "VAXXED". And, how do you know what Robert De Niro really thinks of the film, himself? Are you a close confidante of that famous actor?
I think you need to be accepting of the fact that most people here are not going to see the film. And I am reasonably sure she knows what the word means and used it intentionally.
You speak of heresay and making up your own mind yet you have repeatedly referenced blogs that you have read and have influenced your opinion rather than making up your own mind from the extant data.
And people don't need to know what DiNiro or anyone else thinks, leave that to your blogs, rather who the producer is and the producer's past history.
You wrote: "It's not courage or bravery that I need to be able to watch this film, it's a generous dollop of Ondansetron."
So, are you saying that before you would ever see the "VAXXED" film, that you are sure you would, if you were to see it, be nauseated, in the same way that those poor cancer patients suffering from chemo side effects such as terrible nausea, would need to take Zofran (Ondansetron)?
You said something nice, about one of your "Conspiracy Theorist Anti Vaxx Gym Teachers." Wow. I didn't know there were TEACHERS who were thinkers enough to be not in favor of "forced" vaccinations! Neat! :-)
You wrote: "It's not courage or bravery that I need to be able to watch this film, it's a generous dollop of Ondansetron."
So, are you saying that before you would ever see the "VAXXED" film, that you are sure you would, if you were to see it, be nauseated, in the same way that those poor cancer patients suffering from chemo side effects such as terrible nausea, would need to take Zofran (Ondansetron)?
That's how I read it, Yes, and I'll take some as well. A dollop'll do me.
You said something nice, about one of your "Conspiracy Theorist Anti Vaxx Gym Teachers." Wow. I didn't know there were TEACHERS who were thinkers enough to be not in favor of "forced" vaccinations! Neat! :-)
So...concerned lady...since you seem to be such an authority on the film and vaccines in general, why don't you tell us a little about yourself??
Are you a medical professional?
Are you a film director?
I bet you evade these much questions much the same as you evade any other question someone puts to you. Come on...be brave and reveal your true self!!!
And oh yes, I know what dreck means. My Yiddishe bubbe taught me all about dreck and how to call it when I see or smell it.
You wrote: "It's not courage or bravery that I need to be able to watch this film, it's a generous dollop of Ondansetron."
So, are you saying that before you would ever see the "VAXXED" film, that you are sure you would, if you were to see it, be nauseated,
Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.
Congrats on managing to include your dislike of conventional cancer treatments proven to have the ability to cure cancer in your reply to me. Not that it had anything to do with my post.
So, are you going to post any scientific evidence that supports your beliefs on the (not proven, no factual reason to believe it exists) link between the MMR vaccine and autism?
I feel like I should get an award or something for reading through all of the posts to where I'm at now and not having replied to some of the über-incredible ignorance of insurmountable scientific evidence.
It was as painful as I can imagine it would be to watch someone explain electricity to a belligerent Neanderthal.
Vaccines are an improvement on the quality and length of your time here on earth.
Vaccines are available for all of the following vaccine-preventable diseases:
Anthrax
Cervical Cancer (Human Papillomavirus)
Diphtheria
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Influenza (Flu)
Japanese encephalitis (JE)
Measles
Meningococcal
Mumps
Pertussis
Pneumococcal
Polio
Rabies
Rotavirus
Rubella
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Smallpox
Tetorifice
Typhoid
Tuberculosis (TB)
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Yellow Fever
Just like birth control is not 100% effective, neither are vaccines.
Do not go out and tell people that they shouldn't get vaccinated - that is YOUR decision.
To the anti-vaxx'r: What possible purpose could you have for coming onto an online nursing forum and stating that a Hollywood movie is going to refute hundreds of thousands of hours of medical research into the efficacy and benefit vs risk of the prevention of disease?
The medical establishment generates way more income from the result of your types convincing people to risk getting a disease than from the people who ignore you and vaccinate to prevent disease.
I'm a retired RN/nurse, and I've learned that it's OK to ask questions, and not just swallow the company line. I was as brainwashed as the next nurse, years ago, regarding vaccines--but have learned that science evolves, and assumptions border on religion.
The idea that a minority/questioning view might result in more research and more accurate data, is a ray of hope in a very angry world. Some here would like to squash the questions, rather than think about them. Questioning dogma makes some uncomfortable. But seeking truth, in medicine, etc., is a good thing, in my opinion.
Let's communicate in a civil manner, after we both see the film "VAXXED", okay?
I'm a retired RN/nurse, and I've learned that it's OK to ask questions, and not just swallow the company line. I was as brainwashed as the next nurse, years ago, regarding vaccines--but have learned that science evolves, and assumptions border on religion.
The idea that a minority/questioning view might result in more research and more accurate data, is a ray of hope in a very angry world. Some here would like to squash the questions, rather than think about them. Questioning dogma makes some uncomfortable. But seeking truth, in medicine, etc., is a good thing, in my opinion.
Let's communicate in a civil manner, after we both see the film "VAXXED", okay?
Oh, so you've gotten all your vaccines, but are urging others not to get theirs. I see.
You wrote: "Oh, so you've gotten all your vaccines, but are urging others not to get theirs. I see.", BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE!
I got a smallpox vaccination as a child, and polio vaccine. Once I got a tetorifice shot, in defiance of my GP (General Practitioner) doc, many years ago, who warned me of the dangers of adverse reactions to vaccines.
It took me years to learn about the dangers of vaccines, so yes, I have evolved on this issue.
If anyone knows of a free way to view the film "VAXXED", let me know! I may not agree with the film, but I can't know this, before I view it.
Farawyn, you "assumed" that I got "all my shots". Vaccinations were not required, for nurses, when I was a nurse.
And you "assume" that I'm telling others NOT to get their shots. Nope. All I'm saying, like the group "Nurses Against Forced Vaccinations" says, is that no one should be FORCED to take any meds, including vaccines.
)
to cover this up. This vaccine tampering seems to be a part of some nefarious population control plot.
Nurse Leigh
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