Oct 18 2010
Vaccine “Mis”Information Week
From the Ministry of Anti-Vaccine Propaganda and Misinformation – November 1-6 has been declared “Vaccine Awareness Week.” That is to say, Barbara Loe Fisher and Joe Mercola decided that it would be so. Fisher is a tireless anti-vaccine activist and head of the Orwellian-named National Vaccine Information Center. Joe Mercola runs a newsletter which seems to be just a marketing tool for all sorts of dubious “alternative” treatments.
Together they decided to have a fund-raising marketing event masquerading as a public service “awareness” week. (There already are vaccine awareness months in the US and Canada, making Ficher and Mercola’s scheme unnecessary for genuine vaccine awareness.)
However, my friend and colleague David Gorski had brilliant idea – if they want to have a vaccine awareness week, let them have it. We will teach them the meaning of the phrase, “be careful what you wish for.”
As far as we are concerned, November 1-6 is really vaccine awareness week, and we will be posting science-based information about vaccines, and countering anti-vaccine misinformation throughout the week. Look for these posts on Respectful Insolence (Orac has also announced the event), here at NeuroLogica, and on Science-Based Medicine.
In addition we will be spreading the word among our science blogging colleagues. We’ll list those who are on board and link to any science-based vaccine awareness posts during the week. We are working on developing an aggregator for such posts – we will announce the location soon.
13 Responses to “Vaccine “Mis”Information Week”
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I’ll try to write something up over at Silenced.
On twitter, we’re using the hastag #vaxfax. My opening post for the week is here.
Vaccine Times is on board.
PS: We’ll need to find out what hashtag they’ll be using on Twitter so we can flood it with real information.
Just the Vax is in.
Superdave reporting for duty.
Thanks, everyone. We are working on a website to be the central aggregator for all posts, and will keep you informed once that has been determined.
I’m in, and I’m really grateful that there will a central aggregator, as I usually try to add value that way.
In the mean time, Kristina Chew’s anti-chelation post is getting hammered by the ignorant. Go give a hand if you have the time.
http://www.care2.com/causes/health-policy/blog/chelation-is-not-a-treatment-for-autism/
So far the Pharma Shill gambit, the “what’s the harm gambit” and “the FDA is a sell-out” gambit are in heavy play.
Dr Novella i tried posting this in the Topis suggestions section but there does not appear to be a reply box?
Any way i though that it might be an intersting topic during you Vaccine Mis-information week campaign.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101018121440.htm
I have been told for a while now that people with allergies to eggs should not get the seasonal flu shot for a myriad of different reasons. the above study appears to rebut that argument could you discuss?
Skeptiverse,
I touched briefly on this here (http://goo.gl/DBH5). The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology has indeed released new guidelines about the use of vaccines and people with egg allergies.
The old approach was more of a cautionary approach, the idea being that, given that since eggs are used to produce vaccines, there may be residue egg protein which might induce allergic reactions. However, it appears that the studies don’t support that idea, and it is quite safe for most people with egg allergies to get the vaccine, if they want to get it. It appears not even the skin test, which they do, is needed.
@Skepdude
The caveat being that people with severe egg allergies may still want to play it safe, however.
Todd,
Absolutely, it is safe for most people with egg allergies. Those with severe allergies definitely ought to tread carefully. Either way, severe or not, people with known egg allergies ought to speak with their doctor before getting the shot anyway.