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?
I am convinced that we are dealing with a troll here, who has nothing useful to add to the conversation but delights in stirring up trouble. Perhaps we should just close this thread for good. It's a shame.
I do not believe we are dealing with a troll. This person sounds like several of my relatives.
Finally a review addressed one of the main points I was interested in seeing in Vaxxed, given it's basis on the Thompson "whistleblower" information. As anyone who has read the study knows, the data in question involved only black males, so naturally the movie should focus on black boys with autisim right? Apparently there was only one in the whole movie. Why did if focus on white people is all that data was clearly published in the study that showed no link between autisim and MMR?
Nobody on allnurses.com has said that they have seen the film, "VAXXED", so it seems (correct me if I'm wrong) that you are basing your opinions on heresay, --unless you personally HAVE seen the "VAXXED" film. Have you?
Hearsay is unsubstantiated information. Most people here are discussing substantiated information from a myraid of legitimate reporters and media agencies.
If you want to see it, apparently the theater showing it in NYC is less than half-full for the showings so you can still get tickets easily.
Finally a review addressed one of the main points I was interested in seeing in Vaxxed, given it's basis on the Thompson "whistleblower" information. As anyone who has read the study knows, the data in question involved only black males, so naturally the movie should focus on black boys with autisim right? Apparently there was only one in the whole movie. Why did if focus on white people is all that data was clearly published in the study that showed no link between autisim and MMR?
Because the movie is "entertainment" so they could pick and choose what and who they wanted to present-an adaptation if you will. Not a surprise, given that the original data was manipulated to serve Wakefield's purposes. Might as well continue on in the same tradition.
To concerned lady, you claim in a post on another thread to be a retired rn. If so, where'd you go to school and what did you do as a nurse? I'm also reasonably sure you posted somewhere else that you had no medical experience. So, what's true?
Dear Gypsyd8,
You wrote: "Are you even a medical professional? The amount of nonsense you have posted here leads me to believe you never graduated high school let alone a university."
My reply: Yes, I am a retired RN/nurse, and yes, I graduated from both high school and college, prior to attending nursing school. Years ago, like you, I would not have believed what I now believe, --so my point is, that many of us are capable of learning new things, even if these "new things" contradict what we were taught years ago.
I hope you will keep an open mind, and keep asking questions!
"To concerned lady, you claim in a post on another thread to be a retired rn. If so, where'd you go to school and what did you do as a nurse? I'm also reasonably sure you posted somewhere else that you had no medical experience. So, what's true?
You wrote: "Are you even a medical professional? The amount of nonsense you have posted here leads me to believe you never graduated high school let alone a university."
My reply: Yes, I am a retired
RN
/nurse, and yes, I graduated from both high school and college, prior to attending nursing school. Years ago, like you, I would not have believed what I now believe, --so my point is, that many of us are capable of learning new things, even if these "new things" contradict what we were taught years ago.
I hope you will keep an open mind, and keep asking questions!
Medical science is ever evolving, so of course, new studies contradict old ones, because the idea is to always improve medical care of everyone in the world. HIV was once thought to be a primarily male homosexual disease until cases started showing up in females, intravenous drug users, and hemophiliacs. They eventually found that it is transmitted through bodily fluids and can be transmitted to anyone who comes into fluid to fluid contact with an infected person. While there is no cure yet, but thanks to medical science (you know the same people who developed vaccines) people with HIV can live longer lives thanks to drug therapies. There is hope that one day that vaccine will be developed to help halt the pandemic and I hope they do, because I once knew someone effected by HIV and died from HIV related complication and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. But keep saying vaccines are evil.
To answer your question: I went to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center's nursing program a long time ago. Where did you get your nursing training?
Your being "reasonably sure" that I had once posted that I had no medical experience, is not true. It might be wishful thinking on your part?
Let's get back to the original topic, that is --the "VAXXED" film, instead of attacking those who don't necessarily agree with your point of view.
I went to the Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing. I'm not attacking you, I'm questioning the level of critical thinking you have applied to the research presented and your consistent statements that vaccine research is not believable. Just sayin'.
I did Med-Surg nursing, but your memory about my saying that I didn't have experience, in a flu thread is FAULTY. Your saying that you "seem to remember" is sad, and wrong, because you're also doing "wishful thinking" it seems.
This line of questioning reminds me of the old days--McCarthyism--(probably before your time) accusing innocents of being commies. McCarthy used to have the equivalent of an inquisition in which he said, "Have you now or ever been a Communist, etc.?"
It seems that those who oppose vaccinations put their fingers in their ears and sing "la la la" when examples of vaccine preventable disease or deaths are brought up. Do they they think it can't happen to them or their children? Sadly, the liklihood of the unvaccinated acquiring a vaccine preventable disease is going to increase as vaccination rates go down. I truly feel for those children who are being put in harm's way. I also am very saddened by the lack of compassion I'm seeing towards those affected by diseases that could have been prevented with a vaccine. It's the epitome of self-centeredness.
Hi Farawyn,
I did Med-Surg nursing, but your memory about my saying that I didn't have experience, in a flu thread is FAULTY. Your saying that you "seem to remember" is sad, and wrong, because you're also doing "wishful thinking" it seems.
This line of questioning reminds me of the old days--McCarthyism--(probably before your time) accusing innocents of being commies. McCarthy used to have the equivalent of an inquisition in which he said, "Have you now or ever been a Communist, etc.?"
And you always seemed like such a sweet person...
You don't have to answer. I get you mixed up with the other one who likes Vitamin C so much.
Mea culpa.
I am sweet. Very.
This is not about sweet. This is about people's health being manipulated by lies perpetuated by Wakefield, D list celebrities, and now this movie. It disheartens me to know that "one of us" (You!) is refusing to look at science.
ETA: BC, I think I hit the "like" button so hard on your post that I double quoted you by mistake. I'm just going to leave it.
)
to cover this up. This vaccine tampering seems to be a part of some nefarious population control plot.
Purple_roses
1,763 Posts
I do not believe we are dealing with a troll. This person sounds like several of my relatives.