The Latest Players in the Vaccine Drama
About a year and a half ago, two reporters debated about thimerosal, vaccines and autism. This was back in January of 2007; the reporters were David Kirby and Arthur Allen.
In the past two months, two actresses—Amanda Peet and Jenny McCarthy have made statements to various media sources about vaccines and what they do and what they don’t. Peet has (no surprise here) aroused quite a bit of scorn, anger, fury, from proponents of the hypothesis that vaccines or something in vaccines can be linked to autism.
So there you have it. Journalists and actresses weigh in on a scientific question that no scientist thinks is a good question; discussion rages; misinformation is cast.
Or on second thought: Maybe the latest incarnation of debate about a purported vaccine-autism link is (with all due apologies to Jim’s cousin Bobby, who’s a screenwriter) well-placed in a Hollywood setting of celebrities and gossip, of glossy mags and movie promos. Time indeed to let science be.
(And who knows but there’s the whisper of a plot-line for some comedy in all this. Or, at least a mockumentary.)
Tags: actress, amanda peet, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, celebrity, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Movies, Parenting, patient, pdd-nos, Science, shots, Vaccines
31 opinions for The Latest Players in the Vaccine Drama
Kev
Jul 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm
If only they were both rock stars we could have a rockumentary.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 16, 2008 at 4:14 pm
With songs like “I wanna be vaccinated.”
farmwifetwo
Jul 16, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The debate, according to Allen’s book “Vaccine’s the history of medicines greatest lifesaver”, has been exactly the same since the advent of the smallpox vaccine.
It’s an interesting, yet slow read and IMO very well written so far (about 100pgs in). He’s sticking to the facts. I was wondering after the postings after his visit to the “green our vaccines” rally.
But I’m impressed so far.
S.
toxic
Jul 16, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I notice you did not comment on the omnibus:
http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/07/legal-bombshell.html
Dana
Jul 16, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Team McCarthy for me! I am doing a alternitive schedule for my son, I could not agree more that we have “too many, too soon”!!!
Emily
Jul 16, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Um…because it’s not actually relevant to the point of her post?
Emily
Jul 16, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I so very much regret having clicked on that Website. I’m going have to turn to DMSA to clear that toxic mess from my brain. Can’t all you super double-plus angry people go beat on an actual dead horse or something and get it all out that way? Never again. Never. Again. I think I just burned my retinas.
liquid zeolite
Jul 16, 2008 at 5:41 pm
The truth sometimes has that effect.
liquid zeolite
Jul 16, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Back to the point of the post ….
Opinions are line a-holes …we all have one.
Facts are like pillars of stone that have been around for a long time. Fact’s don’t change from what they were yesterday and facts will be the same tomorrow and in the future.
That having been said …
The conflict of interest that exists between the drug companies that produce vaccines and fund studies makes ALL such studies utterly worthless as a conflict of interest by definition suggests a bias, and the word bias doesn’t jive with the word facts.
Mercury has and always will be a substance that causes brain damage. (If you disagree, stand and be counted)
Our society has over the past 30 years been under an increasing toxic attack (ref: http://www.bodyburden.org). If you disagree, stand and be counted.
Toxins and chemicals cause gene problems.
The trace amount of Mercury in vaccines are still harmful and in fact there is no amount of mercury that is safe for a young brain. When multiple vaccines are given at the same time, the problem is exacerbated. Fact or fiction?
I rest my case.
Emily
Jul 16, 2008 at 5:55 pm
You are a trolling snake-oil salesman who wouldn’t know truth if it walked up to him, bit him on the butt, and said, “Hi, I’m Truth.”
And that’s the truth.
What I read over at Age of Autism was not “truth.” It was the manifestation of an angry, blame-seeking agenda bolstered by hysteria-fueling verbiage provided by people who, I suspect, very much like having their names in the spotlight. The thing is, I know that vaccines sometimes harm children. But these people put me off big time with their tabloid-like ranting.
Given the choice, however, between snake oil and angry toxic garbage…I guess I’d have to go with the garbage.
Emily
Jul 16, 2008 at 5:57 pm
“Toxins and chemicals cause gene problems.”
Do you even have the most limited understanding of what you’re saying?
liquid zeolite
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Re a song:
Killing me softly
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Over at Epi Wonk analysis of DeSoto and Hitlan.
Vaccines have been under suspicions since they were first used—–the poxcumentary continues (along with the general voxcumentary here).
liquid zeolite
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:03 pm
“The thing is, I know that vaccines sometimes harm children.”
Those who knowingly hurt children, the retarded, or elderly are the least among us.
Emily
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:14 pm
So, if someone uses anesthesia in an operation, knowing that there is a minimal chance that something devastating could happen as a result…they are the least among us? Every medical intervention has its costs, not least among them…chelation.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:17 pm
@ liquid zeolite,
“the retarded”—-I’m not sure what you mean, if you don’t mind my asking?
liquid zeolite
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:46 pm
“So, if someone uses anesthesia in an operation, knowing that there is a minimal chance that something devastating could happen as a result…they are the least among us?”.
Anesthesia requires a consent form that must be signed by an adult, not a child. I’m talking about doing something to hurt an innocent child, mentally retarded person, or a decrepit old man or woman. (there’s your clarification on retard)
I have no problem with adults getting vaccinated. I only have a problem with the poisoning of children. If you want to get the flu vaccine once a year and all the new vaccines coming down the pike, that’s your right. I fight for those who don’t have a voice. To me, this is similar to the abortion debate.
Storkdok
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Don’t forget Salma Hayek who promoted vaccines in the last 6 months or so, also took a lot of heat.
Amanda Peet is quite brave, good for her! Especially coming out with this right before her new movie release.
Storkdok
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:55 pm
“To me, this is similar to the abortion debate.”
I believe another person on Kev’s website made the same analogy, anti-vaccers and pro-lifers have the same “true believer” qualities.
It is amazing to me that someone can say, “I fight for those who don’t have a voice. ” and yet believes it is okay to chelate a child. Sort of like the inconsistency of the prolifers advocating for killing the doctors who perform abortions…
Storkdok
Jul 16, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Emily, I know a good retina specialist…thanks for the warning!
ebohlman
Jul 16, 2008 at 8:01 pm
That’s true of every medical procedure, including, you guessed it, vaccination.
donald savitz
Jul 16, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Before you get any kind of vaccination I would check to see if you nave been drinking water that is fluoridated.
Regan
Jul 16, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I think the next step is reality TV. For some reason “The Surreal Life” comes to mind.
Marla
Jul 16, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Wow. I agree. Move the vaccine debate to The Enquirer.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 16, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I think it’s already taken root there or will soon—-and from Jezebel on the “perfect mommy cage match.”
C. S. Wyatt
Jul 17, 2008 at 12:17 am
I (naively) was stunned by the various “treatments” on display at the ASA conference. Also, several publishers were there with magazines, books, and DVDs for the “cure-seeking parent” (as one sign promised).
These people are selling something. Let’s be blunt about that. Products, seminars, and treatments that cost a lot of money. Prices that would bankrupt my family surely can’t be affordable for the masses.
Is my research tainted at the university? I have no idea who dumps money into the huge account that is then passed along as “block grants” to researchers. I couldn’t tell you anything about my funding sources, though I guess someone higher up could.
In the office of one administrator, quite high in rank, was a lot of Native American tapestry. She said her “heritage” was always her first choice when sick or troubled, followed by Chinese medicine. I really, really doubt this person is a tool of Big Pharma, the NIH/CDC, or any other conspiracy. She’d definitely be marching with Green anything (almost no questions asked if it sounds like a good cause).
But, I know she supports my access to all departments, labs, and resources of the university. How horrible!
Sorry… this is just absurd.
Cliff
Jul 17, 2008 at 4:56 am
Ah, the good old AoA…
Anyway, onto the real post; unfortunately, as it is, people in general seem to drift to personalities to place on positions. Not expecting a major change in psychology suddenly, I’ll take what I can get in terms of a celebrity countering McCarthy. Not ideal, sure… but oh well.
Unfortunately, I don’t think science has ever been let alone to be science by the public consciousness, at the end of the day.
Cliff
Leila
Jul 17, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Amanda issued a good response…
http://www.cookiemag.com/entertainment/2008/07/peet_apology
Maybe Not Parasites But Still There’s No Link…….
Jul 17, 2008 at 4:29 pm
[…] Amanda Peet says a sorta sorry. While writing “”I believe in my heart that my use of the word ‘parasites’ was mean and divisive’” in a letter on the Cookie magazine website, she also says: “[T]here is no association between autism and vaccines. How many more studies do we need to conduct on vaccines, before we start re-channeling our efforts and money towards research on autism?” […]
Regan
Jul 23, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I think the next step is reality TV.
Slightly off the mark, but not too far, WWE wrestling.
Amanda Peet Says Something Sensible
Aug 6, 2008 at 12:52 am
[…] last, some sensible words about vaccines, courtesy of actress Amanda Peet on yesterday’s Good Morning America: “It seems that the media is often giving […]
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