Vaccine Wars on the next Frontline.

steve s · 24th April 2010, 04:35 PM

I just saw an ad for the next Frontline documentary that will air Tuesday, April 27th. It's about the debate over vaccines. Of course Jenny McCarthy was featured in the promo.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vaccines/

Steve S.

Estellea · 24th April 2010, 06:46 PM

Leftbrain/Rightbrain blogged about that last week. I doubt any new material will be covered and I don't think it will shed a very favourable light on the Jenny McScience brigade since none of the anti-vax/autism blogs are talking about it.

Este

Fnord · 24th April 2010, 07:47 PM

What with the millions of people dying every day from the "Swine Flu" -- and all because they didn't get the vaccine -- it's a wonder that more people aren't attacking Jenny MaCarthy for her ignorant anti-vaccine rhetoric.

portlandatheist · 25th April 2010, 12:33 PM

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely be watching it

Dr. Imago · 25th April 2010, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Fnord

What with the millions of people dying every day from the "Swine Flu" -- and all because they didn't get the vaccine -- it's a wonder that more people aren't attacking Jenny MaCarthy for her ignorant anti-vaccine rhetoric.

"Millions of people"? I wasn't aware of this. Do you have a source?

As for Jenny McCarthy... well, that's been beaten to death. Ignorance is not bliss.

~Dr. Imago

Safe-Keeper · 25th April 2010, 02:52 PM

Already aware of this, and definitely planning to watch it. Which reminds me -- I have to watch their documentary on alternative medicine, too, some day

.

I recommend everyone head over to PBS Frontline and take their survey on vaccinations.

krx · 25th April 2010, 10:21 PM

Holy crap! That commentary section was a scary read! *shudders*

Safe-Keeper · 26th April 2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Holy crap! That commentary section was a scary read! *shudders*

It's always like that. The fringe is always the loudest.

samanthakayee · 27th April 2010, 08:29 AM

I used to think a few silly things about Vaccines. My husband works for lifeflight and a few years back I was asked by the flight nurse if I also wanted the flu shot. (Hubby has to have the shot) I said no I did not want the flu. This man ate me alive on why I was full of ****. The next day I let him give me and the kids a flu shot.
I still have a few friends on facebook that still thinks all that anti vac stuff. It is very scary.

Safe-Keeper · 28th April 2010, 11:27 AM

I found it a great program, though it could have delved deeper into certain issues like vaccine ingredients. Anti-vaxxers in the comments field are understandably upset

.

pgwenthold · 28th April 2010, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Safe-Keeper

I found it a great program, though it could have delved deeper into certain issues like vaccine ingredients.

They didn't have to.

Note that vaccine ingredients are no more dangerous than the vaccines themselves. At most, the problems caused by the vaccine ingredients is less than or equal to those caused by the vaccines themselves.

So if the vaccines aren't a problem, then neither are the ingredients.

Safe-Keeper · 28th April 2010, 01:34 PM

I know that, you know that... but does the average viewer? It wouldn't have taken many seconds to say something like "it's not the compound itself, it's the dose".

jasonpatterson · 28th April 2010, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by samanthakayee

I used to think a few silly things about Vaccines. My husband works for lifeflight and a few years back I was asked by the flight nurse if I also wanted the flu shot. (Hubby has to have the shot) I said no I did not want the flu. This man ate me alive on why I was full of ****. The next day I let him give me and the kids a flu shot.
I still have a few friends on facebook that still thinks all that anti vac stuff. It is very scary.

I'm glad that the guy didn't scare you away from getting the shot. I have to agree that anti-vaxxers are full of crap, but telling someone that to their face aggressively is rarely a good way to change their mind. Once a parent knows the rate at which kids really do die from these diseases once they catch them, they often change their minds. Since I first saw it, I've been showing my high school students a video about vaccinations that really gets the message through well, and I've actually had teen moms thank me for changing their minds about vaccinating their babies. (I'm a physics teacher, and I use the video as part of a critical/scientific thinking exercise.)

NOOOO! I've been out of the classroom for about a year, and now I can't find the video anywhere... I was going to provide a link. If anyone knows where to find it, I'd love the info, it's a powerful piece of work. The video is about the outbreaks of pertussis in Australia, it was done by ABC in 2009 (Aus. BC, that is, of course.) It features the parents of Dana McCaffery, who died from pertussis because she was too young to be vaccinated and herd immunity didn't exist for the disease in her area. It also features the asinine crapbag who is Meryl Dorey, of the Australia Vaccination Network, looking like the evil, heartless hag that she clearly is.

Safe-Keeper · 29th April 2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

NOOOO! I've been out of the classroom for about a year, and now I can't find the video anywhere... I was going to provide a link. If anyone knows where to find it, I'd love the info, it's a powerful piece of work. The video is about the outbreaks of pertussis in Australia, it was done by ABC in 2009 (Aus. BC, that is, of course.) It features the parents of Dana McCaffery, who died from pertussis because she was too young to be vaccinated and herd immunity didn't exist for the disease in her area. It also features the asinine crapbag who is Meryl Dorey, of the Australia Vaccination Network, looking like the evil, heartless hag that she clearly is.

You could always just show them this PBS Frontline episode. It has a a rather unpleasant segment on just what can happen to infants if selfish or paranoid parents don't vaccinate their kidfs.

gabeygoat · 3rd May 2012, 09:06 PM

So I watched this today in class, and was wary of people's opinions, but all in all, most people saw through the McCarthy crap and listened to the science. It was a public health class, so i'm sure it was biased, but I was pleasantly surprised at the reactions.

24th April 2010, 04:35 PM	#1
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,670	Vaccine Wars on the next Frontline. I just saw an ad for the next Frontline documentary that will air Tuesday, April 27th. It's about the debate over vaccines. Of course Jenny McCarthy was featured in the promo. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vaccines/ Steve S.
steve s Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,670	__________________ "Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken

24th April 2010, 07:47 PM	#3
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,633	What with the millions of people dying every day from the "Swine Flu" -- and all because they didn't get the vaccine -- it's a wonder that more people aren't attacking Jenny MaCarthy for her ignorant anti-vaccine rhetoric.
	__________________ Belief is the subjective acceptance of a (valid or invalid) concept, opinion, or theory; Faith is the unreasoned belief in improvable things; *and Knowledge* is the reasoned belief in provable things. Belief itself proves nothing.**

25th April 2010, 02:42 PM	#5
Dr. Imago Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,051	Originally Posted by Fnord What with the millions of people dying every day from the "Swine Flu" -- and all because they didn't get the vaccine -- it's a wonder that more people aren't attacking Jenny MaCarthy for her ignorant anti-vaccine rhetoric. "Millions of people"? I wasn't aware of this. Do you have a source? As for Jenny McCarthy... well, that's been beaten to death. Ignorance is not bliss. ~Dr. Imago
Dr. Imago Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,051	__________________ DISCLAIMER: The above post is for informational and/or educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for the professional judgment of, in direct consultation with, a health care professional in diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing any disease or disorder. It is not to be construed as individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Your reliance upon the information obtained or used by you at, through, or as a result of this post is solely at your own risk.

25th April 2010, 02:52 PM	#6
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	Already aware of this, and definitely planning to watch it. Which reminds me -- I have to watch their documentary on alternative medicine, too, some day. I recommend everyone head over to PBS Frontline and take their survey on vaccinations.

25th April 2010, 10:21 PM	#7
krx Thinker Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 140	Holy crap! That commentary section was a scary read! shudders
krx Thinker Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 140

24th April 2010, 06:46 PM	#2
Estellea Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,120	Leftbrain/Rightbrain blogged about that last week. I doubt any new material will be covered and I don't think it will shed a very favourable light on the Jenny McScience brigade since none of the anti-vax/autism blogs are talking about it. Este

25th April 2010, 12:33 PM	#4
portlandatheist Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,111	Thanks for the link, I'll definitely be watching it

26th April 2010, 08:49 AM	#8
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	Quote: Holy crap! That commentary section was a scary read! shudders It's always like that. The fringe is always the loudest.

27th April 2010, 08:29 AM	#9
samanthakayee Scholar Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Alaska Posts: 82	I used to think a few silly things about Vaccines. My husband works for lifeflight and a few years back I was asked by the flight nurse if I also wanted the flu shot. (Hubby has to have the shot) I said no I did not want the flu. This man ate me alive on why I was full of ****. The next day I let him give me and the kids a flu shot. I still have a few friends on facebook that still thinks all that anti vac stuff. It is very scary.

28th April 2010, 11:27 AM	#10
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	I found it a great program, though it could have delved deeper into certain issues like vaccine ingredients. Anti-vaxxers in the comments field are understandably upset.

28th April 2010, 11:38 AM	#11
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,074	Originally Posted by Safe-Keeper I found it a great program, though it could have delved deeper into certain issues like vaccine ingredients. They didn't have to. Note that vaccine ingredients are no more dangerous than the vaccines themselves. At most, the problems caused by the vaccine ingredients is less than or equal to those caused by the vaccines themselves. So if the vaccines aren't a problem, then neither are the ingredients.
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

28th April 2010, 01:34 PM	#12
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	I know that, you know that... but does the average viewer? It wouldn't have taken many seconds to say something like "it's not the compound itself, it's the dose".

28th April 2010, 04:03 PM	#13
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Space, The Final Frontier Posts: 2,185	Originally Posted by samanthakayee I used to think a few silly things about Vaccines. My husband works for lifeflight and a few years back I was asked by the flight nurse if I also wanted the flu shot. (Hubby has to have the shot) I said no I did not want the flu. This man ate me alive on why I was full of ****. The next day I let him give me and the kids a flu shot. I still have a few friends on facebook that still thinks all that anti vac stuff. It is very scary. I'm glad that the guy didn't scare you away from getting the shot. I have to agree that anti-vaxxers are full of crap, but telling someone that to their face aggressively is rarely a good way to change their mind. Once a parent knows the rate at which kids really do die from these diseases once they catch them, they often change their minds. Since I first saw it, I've been showing my high school students a video about vaccinations that really gets the message through well, and I've actually had teen moms thank me for changing their minds about vaccinating their babies. (I'm a physics teacher, and I use the video as part of a critical/scientific thinking exercise.) NOOOO! I've been out of the classroom for about a year, and now I can't find the video anywhere... I was going to provide a link. If anyone knows where to find it, I'd love the info, it's a powerful piece of work. The video is about the outbreaks of pertussis in Australia, it was done by ABC in 2009 (Aus. BC, that is, of course.) It features the parents of Dana McCaffery, who died from pertussis because she was too young to be vaccinated and herd immunity didn't exist for the disease in her area. It also features the asinine crapbag who is Meryl Dorey, of the Australia Vaccination Network, looking like the evil, heartless hag that she clearly is.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

29th April 2010, 12:01 PM	#14
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	Quote: NOOOO! I've been out of the classroom for about a year, and now I can't find the video anywhere... I was going to provide a link. If anyone knows where to find it, I'd love the info, it's a powerful piece of work. The video is about the outbreaks of pertussis in Australia, it was done by ABC in 2009 (Aus. BC, that is, of course.) It features the parents of Dana McCaffery, who died from pertussis because she was too young to be vaccinated and herd immunity didn't exist for the disease in her area. It also features the asinine crapbag who is Meryl Dorey, of the Australia Vaccination Network, looking like the evil, heartless hag that she clearly is. You could always just show them this PBS Frontline episode. It has a a rather unpleasant segment on just what can happen to infants if selfish or paranoid parents don't vaccinate their kidfs.

3rd May 2012, 09:06 PM	#15
gabeygoat Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hard Corvallis, Oregon Posts: 668	So I watched this today in class, and was wary of people's opinions, but all in all, most people saw through the McCarthy crap and listened to the science. It was a public health class, so i'm sure it was biased, but I was pleasantly surprised at the reactions.