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?
Thanks Katie (and again Muno) for giving us real-life examples of the risk of not getting immunized.
Regarding the film, the negative reviews are everywhere and the turnout for the film is negligible. I'm not paying money to see it and I would hesitate to watch it free just because of the frustration regarding the lies told.
"Wakefield is one of the most scorned men in the medical world" which is why this film is so frustrating.
Perhaps what we need is a film explaining the history of vaccines and their world changing effects. Talk to people who had polio and still suffer from the ravages of the disease.
Hear from the many families with children with autism who understand vaccines are not the enemy, and they want the focus on the challenges and rewards of raising and loving a child on the spectrum.
Listen to accounts of people from other parts of the world where vaccines are not so readily available and that has affected those areas - and what they would give to have the vaccines available.
People who were skeptics regarding vaccines but saw first hand how devastating these diseases are and now encourage others to fully vaccinate.
The sad stories of parents who lost their otherwise healthy 35 year old child to the flu because he or she didn't think the annual vaccine necessary.
The people who can't be immunized and rely on those who can.
Perhaps what we need is a film explaining the history of vaccines and their world changing effects. Talk to people who had polio and still suffer from the ravages of the disease.
Hear from the many families with children with autism who understand vaccines are not the enemy, and they want the focus on the challenges and rewards of raising and loving a child on the spectrum.
Listen to accounts of people from other parts of the world where vaccines are not so readily available and that has affected those areas - and what they would give to have the vaccines available.
People who were skeptics regarding vaccines but saw first hand how devastating these diseases are and now encourage others to fully vaccinate.
The sad stories of parents who lost their otherwise healthy 35 year old child to the flu because he or she didn't think the annual vaccine necessary.
Good idea, but nowhere near "sexy" enough for Hollywood. Many people don't want the truth. They want something to shake their fist at.
Good idea, but nowhere near "sexy" enough for Hollywood. Many people don't want the truth. They want something to shake their fist at.
True. Though a lot of us shake our fists at Jenny McCarthy.
Ummm....strippers in the background? Men and women for equal eye candy? Some people in those furry animal costumes for those that swing that way? C'mon Hollywood! Science is sexy!
I hope all those who are listening to "heresay", will be brave enough to see the film "VAXXED" for themselves, instead of taking the easy way out--listening to rumor mongering. I also hope the film will be free, to encourage nurses, doctors, parents and parents of vaccine injured children, and others to see FOR THEMSELVES, what the film has to say.
I also want to read Jenny McCarthy's book, entitled : Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.
I hope all those who are listening to "heresay", will be brave enough to see the film "VAXXED" for themselves, instead of taking the easy way out--listening to rumor mongering. I also hope the film will be free, to encourage nurses, doctors, parents and parents of vaccine injured children, and others to see FOR THEMSELVES, what the film has to say.
Buh?
Free?
You think this movie was made as informational? It's entertainment. Masquerading as a documentary.
Please stop saying brave. No one is "afraid" of seeing Vaxxed. If anything? I'm disgusted.
Please don't mischaracterize our choice in not seeing the film. We know what is in it. You don't have to watch the movie to know what the movie is about.
We are not fearful. We are saddened and yes, as Far mentioned, disgusted that kids with autism are being used in such a terrible way.
Please don't mischaracterize our choice in not seeing the film. We know what is in it. You don't have to watch the movie to know what the movie is about.
We are not fearful. We are saddened and yes, as Far mentioned, disgusted that kids with autism are being used in such a terrible way.
This movie is preying on the parents' emotions.
I will watch it- when and if it is free, from the comfort of my own home, so I can throw tomatoes at my own tv.
I hope all those who are listening to "heresay", will be brave enough to see the film "VAXXED" for themselves, instead of taking the easy way out--listening to rumor mongering. I also hope the film will be free, to encourage nurses, doctors, parents and parents of vaccine injured children, and others to see FOR THEMSELVES, what the film has to say.
I also want to read Jenny McCarthy's book, entitled : Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.
What hearsay and rumor mongering? It is widely known that Andrew Wakefield has been thoroughly discredited and his so-called research has been exposed as bunk. We know what the movie is about. There is no hearsay and rumor spreading here. There is no need to see this movie. We know what it is about. I would no sooner see this movie than see a documentary about how Saddam Hussein was really a good guy.
Several posters have talked about their experiences with people harmed by not getting vaccines. I found them to be very compelling. I'd like to know your thoughts on their experiences.
And Jenny McCarthy....no credibility at all. I'm sorry her son is autistic but I'm not interested in hearing her perpetuate harmful misinformation.
Have you read Jenny McCarthy's book, yet? Her book is entitled: Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.
I want to read Jenny McCarthy's book, because when I looked at the 2 Medical Doctors' introductions to her book, I was impressed at their professional praises for Jenny's book about healing autism! I saw these introductions, on a large bookseller's website, whose name is similar to strong South American fabled women called Amazons.
I hope all those who are listening to "heresay", will be brave enough to see the film "VAXXED" for themselves, instead of taking the easy way out--listening to rumor mongering. I also hope the film will be free, to encourage nurses, doctors, parents and parents of vaccine injured children, and others to see FOR THEMSELVES, what the film has to say.
I also want to read Jenny McCarthy's book, entitled : Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.
It isn't that people aren't brave enough to see this movie, it's that they are bright enough to know that it is garbage. I haven't seen even one person here say they are afraid to see the movie, so why do you keep putting it that way?
Bravery isn't what's needed to watch this trash. The ability to leave scientific knowledge at the door, control one's anger reactions and possibly a hefty bottle of Tums is!
)
to cover this up. This vaccine tampering seems to be a part of some nefarious population control plot.
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
Thanks Katie (and again Muno) for giving us real-life examples of the risk of not getting immunized.
Regarding the film, the negative reviews are everywhere and the turnout for the film is negligible. I'm not paying money to see it and I would hesitate to watch it free just because of the frustration regarding the lies told.
"Wakefield is one of the most scorned men in the medical world" which is why this film is so frustrating.