Dan GillmorDec 27, 2022

Big Journalism is still largely unwilling to call things what they are. Today's example is the Washington Post's use of "vaccine hesitancy" to describe a movement that is based on rejecting science and evidence in favor of dangerous and, increasingly, politically motivated lies.

The people who reject vaccines are attacking their communities. They spread disease and death. We should recognize this, and say it out loud.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/12/26/vaccine-hesitancy-measles-chickenpox-polio-flu/

Growing vaccine hesitancy fuels measles, chickenpox resurgence in U.S.

An Ohio measles outbreak among unvaccinated children comes at a time of heightened concern about the public health consequences of anti-vaccine sentiment.

The Washington Post
Show threadSepideh
@dangillmor The majority of anti-vaccine folks are vaccine hesitant. That means they can be persuaded to make better life choices. Only a small fraction are so deeply anti-vaccine that you should not even bother talking to them about their choices.
Dec 27, 2022 at 4:10amWeb
Show threadFrédéric D'AstousDec 27, 2022
@sepdroid @dangillmor I'm inclined to think there are 2 categories ... vaccine hesitant (at various levels) and the anti-vaccine movement (with specific ideological beliefs).
Show threadSepidehDec 27, 2022

@fdastous @dangillmor

The anti-vaccine movement originally peaked in the late 1990s because people blamed vaccines for autism.

My inclination to yell at anti-vaccine folks is generally not helpful.

However, medical professionals have been working on this.

They need pro-vaccine people to show up at the state capitols when anti-vaccine folks try to get vaccine requirements for schools removed or diluted.

Only 10-20% of anti-vaccine folks are part of the ideological anti-vaccine movement.