Why Do We Listen To These People?

By Rich Kozlovich

As a member of the American Council on Science and Health (ASCH) I receive their Daily Dispatch, which covers all the latest scares promulgated by the greenies back to naturists, and Luddites who believe that modern innovations and everything produced by man is evil, including vaccinations. There were two issues that particularly struck me today, and one of them was titled, “Science Prevails in Courts, But Maybe Not Blogs”.

They note; “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reaffirmed Friday a conclusion reached long ago by scientists, upholding a decision that there is no link between autism and vaccines.“

This  supported the decision made by Special Master Denise Vowell who ruled that all the evidence presented by the anti-vaccine crowd is “weak, contradictory and unpersuasive. Sadly, the petitioners in this litigation have been the victims of bad science conducted to support litigation rather than to advance medical and scientific understanding [of autism]."

The Appeals Court stated. “We have carefully reviewed the decision of the special master and we find that it is rationally supported by the evidence, well-articulated, and reasonable.”

Apparently Dr. Whelan of ASCH, has been exasperated by all of these conspiracy theories, junk science, and “quack remedies to make children whole again”. She states; “Finally it’s unanimous that there is no relationship between autism and vaccines, so when will this myth finally go away forever?”

This is an international movement and because of these activists parents have become so concerned that many have stopped having their children vaccinated for measles and whooping cough.  In those areas of this country where they have abandoned vaccinations, or only use vaccines without the mercury preservative, the number of autism cases remains much the same.  Where parents are eschewing vaccinations the rate of childhood diseases has increased, including whooping cough. I doesn’t seem to matter to these true believers, and the blogosphere will abound with more junk science and conspiracy theories as “long as Jenny McCarthy (another celebrity epidemiologist) keeps selling books.”

 No one should have any delusions as to what can happen when society abandons that which has saved untold numbers. Let’s not make any mistake about this; society cannot escape the consequences of their choices. Everything we are told should bear some resemblance to what we see going on in reality. Let’s at least have a clear perspective on the subject based on history and events.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, so contagious that 100 years ago we used to quarantine homes where a family member was stricken with it in this country. Because of complacency and lack of funding in some African countries, vaccination rates dropped dramatically, and as anyone should expect, they are experiencing “the worst outbreaks of measles in years” - afflicting “thousands and killing hundreds across Africa,” and it became so prevalent that some mothers wouldn’t name their children until they survived a bout with measles. “About 164,000 people died from measles in 2008, down 78 percent from 733,000 in 2000, according to the Measles Initiative, which includes groups like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation.” However, UNICEF officials "fear the combined effect of decreased political and financial commitment to measles could reverse the gains, resulting in an estimated 1.7 million measles-related deaths globally between 2010 and 2013."

Who is accountable for these unnecessary illnesses and deaths? Better yet, why is no one accountable? We have a clear vision of the reality of a world without vaccinations. The facts are easily seen, easily found, and easy to understand. Vaccinations save lives in the third world, why would we think that it would be any different here? Why do we listen to these people?

Comments will not be accepted that are rude, crude, stupid or smarmy. Nor will I allow ad hominem attacks or comments from anyone who is "Anonymous”, even if they are positive!


###