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 going to see this film later in the week. I really find it so unprofessional to polarize the topic into pro and anti vaxxer without any discussion. There are many corporate interests embedded in the kinds and number of vaccines recommended for children, teens and adults alike. Personally, I believe as a nurse it is my job to critically think through all perspectives regarding vaccines, not just what my nursing textbooks and the CDC say. I find it simply appalling that some health professionals do not take harm caused by vaccines seiously. I don't consider myself an anti vaccine promoter but let's look at documented cases of real harm people including young children have experienced. Saying it ain't so and let's just keep injecting SIMPLY ISN'T AN ETHICAL RESPONSE. At a bare minimum our oath to do no harm requires respect for people's experiences and a desire for better investigation and safety.
There are basically 5 views on this topic:
provax
antivax
prochoice
I am not sure
I don't care
LOVE YOUR LAST POST!!!
This thread and others, too. Nothing "ethical" about endlessly relitigating the same debunked assertions and pretending that epidemiology does not exist. That's not critical thinking either, it's being a sucker.
You mean like when science said the world is flat and the penalty to disagree was death?
I can excuse banterings to some level. You are a nurse.
I don't understand how you don't get that there are no documented cases of autism from vaccine.
It's embarrassing.
There are pages and pages here of legitimate scientific publications.
What are you not comprehending?
Did I accidentally send you my bio?
Of course I noticed how you failed to mention my Oscar, Nobel Prize, Super Bowl win, and all my boy scout badges...
Is this the same court that convicted a bunch of scientists for manslaughter because they failed to predict a deadly earthquake? And who had that verdict overturned awhile later because of the sheer stupidity of the decision in the first place?
I don't think I'm going to trust a court that made a decision based on misinformation and misunderstanding of science to not screw up this decision too!
I didn't bring up autism in fact, but general vaccine safety issues and reactions. People really fixate on this link, parents and loved ones with children afflicted by autism rightfully so, but it's so much more than autism. In response to your comment directed at autism, "Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." (Chinua Achebe) I am versed in what mainstream science has to say about vaccines and autism and in fact, you are incorrect. A ruling by a court in Italy did rule a causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism (1). What I find unacceptable is that people allow vaccines schedules to be released without question, without critique about their safety. Incremental increases in the quantity of vaccines as well as the quantity and severity of reactions documented by VAERS and those undocumented and unacknowledged and the response from some is "it can't be the vaccines." Does this crisis not at lease warrant alarm and additional investigation? I consider the biggest embarrassment not being able to use ones own intuition, judgement and critical thinking skills to assess health issues. So called scientifically valid sources once claimed it unecessary to wash hands between contact with different patients. It took a group of critical thinking rebel midwives to transform this unsanitary practice that was killing mothers and babies into safer, healthier and lifesaving conditions and there are so many other examples of this. It is through asking questions and criticism of what is going on that we can move towards a healthier, safer society. Health professionals who do not engage in this process due to a herd mentality or lack of information from non-corporate sponsored sources really do such a disservice to the people they are charged with caring for. We have reached a boiling point when it comes to vaccines being shoved down our throats without attention to the ways in which they jeopardize our health and the unacceptable responses from the agencies we fund to protect our health. If "Vaxxed: From Coverup to Catastrophe" helps probe the questioning process, I think that's a great step forward. The fact that so many people are opposed to this film is actually generating further interest and serving inadvertently to promote the film (2). Keep up the great work!
And once again,a whole bunch of words that don't mean much. Italian courts rule that vaccines cause autism? Are the judges and the jury also medical professionals? A court of law does not have the knowledge to decide on the cause of a disease. And once again, not a mention of the millions of lives vaccines has saved. Who wants smallpox and polio back? Who wants their baby to get whooping cough or their teen to die from meningitis? Apparently some people really don't care-their heads are in the sand (or somewhere else).
And once again,a whole bunch of words that don't mean much. Italian courts rule that vaccines cause autism? Are the judges also medical professionals? A court of law does not have the knowledge to decide on the cause of a disease. And once again, not a mention of the millions of lives vaccines has saved. Who wants smallpox and polio back? Who wants their baby to get whooping cough or their teen to die from meningitis? Apparently some people really don't care-their heads are in the sand (or somewhere else).
Far-can I have some ice for my tongue???
Save some for my coffee - I live on iced coffee:geek:
We've had in-depth discussion in this thread for days and days. I'm wondering if you've read it.
I can excuse banterings to some level. You are a nurse.
I don't understand how you don't get that there are no documented cases of autism from vaccine.
It's embarrassing.
There are pages and pages here of legitimate scientific publications.
What are you not comprehending?
I've read portions of the discussion, not all 56 pages. I decided to comment because #1 I am thrilled to have tickets to see this film later in the week and #2 I feel it is important for RNs who reject standard assumptions about vaccines voices to be included. Even if someone else is making similar points, I'm happy to add my voice in so that person does not feel isolated or alone as nurses who question vaccine safety can be made to feel.
I actually have gotten a lot of positive feedback at my job from other staff members from all different levels including managerial regarding my decision to decline the flu vaccine (resulting in the requirement to wear a mask during flu season). I don't sit online all day as I set strict media quotas for myself to ensure that the majority of my life is spent in 3 dimensions. Therefore, I have not taken the time to read each and every post, but have read several pages, enough to understand the key points of the discussion. Having read many similar discussions, discussed these issues as a nursing student and read many books and articles about vaccines on varying sides of the debate, I am aware of the key points being made.
This part isn't directed at you Spidey's mom, but at others who have made statements that nurses who question vaccines are "suckers" and an "embarrassment." I wholeheartedly disagree and will not retort with name calling. My voice and perspective and those of others who ask questions are out there regardless of these insults and the fight for vaccine safety and freedom to accept or refuse vaccination are not things that you can silence or slow down through insults or any other means.
I've read portions of the discussion, not all 56 pages. I decided to comment because #1 I am thrilled to have tickets to see this film later in the week and #2 I feel it is important for RNs who reject standard assumptions about vaccines voices to be included. Even if someone else is making similar points, I'm happy to add my voice in so that person does not feel isolated or alone as nurses who question vaccine safety can be made to feel.
I actually have gotten a lot of positive feedback at my job from other staff members from all different levels including managerial regarding my decision to decline the flu vaccine (resulting in the requirement to wear a mask during flu season). I don't sit online all day as I set strict media quotas for myself to ensure that the majority of my life is spent in 3 dimensions. Therefore, I have not taken the time to read each and every post, but have read several pages, enough to understand the key points of the discussion. Having read many similar discussions, discussed these issues as a nursing student and read many books and articles about vaccines on varying sides of the debate, I am aware of the key points being made.
This part isn't directed at you Spidey's mom, but at others who have made statements that nurses who question vaccines are "suckers" and an "embarrassment." I wholeheartedly disagree and will not retort with name calling. My voice and perspective and those of others who ask questions are out there regardless of these insults and the fight for vaccine safety and freedom to accept or refuse vaccination are not things that you can silence or slow down through insults or any other means.
That's a very stirring declaration, but you've picked the wrong hill to die on. Where vaccines are concerned, you've either been had or you hold stock in an alternative health company.
And once again,a whole bunch of words that don't mean much. Italian courts rule that vaccines cause autism? Are the judges also medical professionals? A court of law does not have the knowledge to decide on the cause of a disease. And once again, not a mention of the millions of lives vaccines has saved. Who wants smallpox and polio back? Who wants their baby to get whooping cough or their teen to die from meningitis? Apparently some people really don't care-their heads are in the sand (or somewhere else).
Far-can I have some ice for my tongue???
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!
Our society (as well as many other western societies) have set the court of law as the ultimate decider†in matters of conflict brought before it. Evidence is brought before the court, the court weighs the evidence and renders a decision.
Courts are not the ones responsible for creating the research. The attorneys represent the parties and their interests in the proceedings.
Nurses, physicians, scientists, etc. do NOT have the authority and (in most cases) the knowledge of law to render a judgement.
These issues are brought up and acted upon by government with the authority of the people. In the matter of disputes, the judicial branch of government with the authority of the people, render final decision (until new evidence is discovered).
The dispensation of judgement and justice, as well as the legislation of law, are guided by the framework of government (the Constitution here in the US), which also acts as the base for our society.
The pseudoscience of the law†equally adds nothing to the conversation.
)
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
Meet me in Farawyn's office forthwith . . .