Who's Against Vaccines?--It's Not Just Crazy Moms! Comments

Thank you for this article, first common sense thing I've read on the topic for a LONG time.

I can trace my position on the vaccine issue to my radicalization on the medical establishment as a whole. For me, it was around the issue of childbirth, as I realized that the persecution of midwives was likely more related to an ideology that protects the positions of the establishment, while controlling new parents at a vulnerable time.

That loss of trust was easily extended to childhood vaccines, first with Hep B at birth. Vaccination for a sexually transmitted disease? At birth? Really? And then discovering the rationale: for vulnerable inner city populations, the only time a doctor might see the baby is at birth. Maybe that makes sense from a public health standpoint, for that population. But is that the right choice for my child?

How can the CDC et al win back my trust? First, by being trustworthy. To be trustworthy, be open, and tell us the truth at all times -- regardless of what you think the impact will be on vaccination rates. Your commitment must be to truth above outcome. Only then will the outcome start to become what you want.

I am a Nurse Practitioner and I am constantly talking to people about vaccines. I try to get people not to take a "pro-con" stance, but instead see the grey areas. Become educated. Do their own research. Non-emotionally. There is no "right side", unless you count freedom to choose as a side! (hmmm....this is reminiscent of that other debate we are always arguing over.....abortion).

You have broadened my scope by also including government influence and political and financial gain into the equation. I'm usually so focused on the science and education that I forget there are these over arching issues.

Thank you for asking these tough questions and for continuing to open the dialog without accepting polarization. We need that more than anything!

Great article, thank you Fred!

This is a pretty useless, sensationalizing article. All it says is that the government is bad - there are a lot of scary things they are forcing us to do. There is not an ounce of information in the entire article.

Louis Pasteur's accomplishments go far beyond helping to establish the germ theory of disease (together with Robert Koch). The realization that microbes were behind the main killers of human beings before the 1900s led to the development aseptic practices and antimicrobial agents; this, in turn, made chronic diseases (not contagious/infectious ones) the ones to fear most. These men literally brought in a new era both in medicine and in public health.