Comments on: The Anti-Vaccine Movement and the Rejection of Science http://www.lonegunman.co.uk/2010/02/09/the-anti-vaccine-movement-and-the-rejection-of-science/ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:29:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lloyd Morgan http://www.lonegunman.co.uk/2010/02/09/the-anti-vaccine-movement-and-the-rejection-of-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2741 Lloyd Morgan Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:44:30 +0000 http://www.lonegunman.co.uk/?p=4775#comment-2741 Amy, I think this is a key part of the problem: when confronted with the anguish of having a child with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism) parents and close relatives <em>want</em> an answer… an explanation. It's natural to want this and to blame a parent who is passionate about an issue they have been misinformed about is to not comprehend the complete issue. As you say, science doesn't offer a lot of answers on these topics and this is because the nature of the scientific method doesn't lend itself to making firm, black-and-white distinctions. The distinctions like this are what people want. Again, I can't agree more: the 'blame' (although it's not as easy as 'blame') lies more with the people like Wakefield who enter this arena without thinking of the full consequence of their actions. Conclusions such as his gain such momentum as it provides a reason, and this has proved detrimental to so many children who have become seriously ill or even died from completely preventable diseases. Thanks for the comment… enlightening. Amy,

I think this is a key part of the problem: when confronted with the anguish of having a child with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism) parents and close relatives want an answer… an explanation.

It’s natural to want this and to blame a parent who is passionate about an issue they have been misinformed about is to not comprehend the complete issue.

As you say, science doesn’t offer a lot of answers on these topics and this is because the nature of the scientific method doesn’t lend itself to making firm, black-and-white distinctions. The distinctions like this are what people want.

Again, I can’t agree more: the ‘blame’ (although it’s not as easy as ‘blame’) lies more with the people like Wakefield who enter this arena without thinking of the full consequence of their actions. Conclusions such as his gain such momentum as it provides a reason, and this has proved detrimental to so many children who have become seriously ill or even died from completely preventable diseases.

Thanks for the comment… enlightening.

]]> By: Amy Thibodeau http://www.lonegunman.co.uk/2010/02/09/the-anti-vaccine-movement-and-the-rejection-of-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2740 Amy Thibodeau Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:51:09 +0000 http://www.lonegunman.co.uk/?p=4775#comment-2740 I have a sister with severe autism and a host of other developmental challenges and through my experience with her, I ended up doing a lot of work with special needs people, particularly when I was between the ages of 16 and 22 or so. I remember back then how common the perception was that vaccines aren't safe - even doctors and physio therapists were saying that they were a risk and as a result parents often felt consumed by guilt over the thought that their child's illness could have been prevented. As parents and relatives of people with disabilities, you are just looking for some way to understand how your child or your sibling could have been born with so many health, intellectual and emotional problems. Vaccines always feel like a good place to start, especially as science doesn't offer a lot of answers. In my opinion, criticism should be focused on people like Wakefield who are taking advantage of the fragility of so many people who are just trying to understand what went wrong, while also finding a solution for a loved one who is often suffering and causing a huge strain on their family - usually with minimal support or relief from the government. We are taught to trust the word of the medical industry whole sale and it is easy to forget that there is an entire lobby of interest groups and billions of dollars at stake driving the answers and solutions offered by so many experts in the medical community. It is easy to be irrational in the face of it all. Thanks for posting this. :) I have a sister with severe autism and a host of other developmental challenges and through my experience with her, I ended up doing a lot of work with special needs people, particularly when I was between the ages of 16 and 22 or so. I remember back then how common the perception was that vaccines aren’t safe — even doctors and physio therapists were saying that they were a risk and as a result parents often felt consumed by guilt over the thought that their child’s illness could have been prevented.

As parents and relatives of people with disabilities, you are just looking for some way to understand how your child or your sibling could have been born with so many health, intellectual and emotional problems. Vaccines always feel like a good place to start, especially as science doesn’t offer a lot of answers.

In my opinion, criticism should be focused on people like Wakefield who are taking advantage of the fragility of so many people who are just trying to understand what went wrong, while also finding a solution for a loved one who is often suffering and causing a huge strain on their family — usually with minimal support or relief from the government. We are taught to trust the word of the medical industry whole sale and it is easy to forget that there is an entire lobby of interest groups and billions of dollars at stake driving the answers and solutions offered by so many experts in the medical community. It is easy to be irrational in the face of it all.

Thanks for posting this. :)

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