James GleickDec 26, 2022

This astounding, terrible, unforgivable thing isn’t just happening. It’s a choice made by one of America’s two major political parties. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around that

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 threadJanet Rosenbaum (she/her)Dec 26, 2022
@JamesGleick The seeds of this larger vaccine refusal were planted even several years ago when I had a baby and saw how vaccines were among the topics considered not for polite conversation among parents. As soon as vaccines were treated like religion and politics instead of like science among people who should know better, science lost. Nova happened to document the extent in 2014. Now it's worse, and one political side has harnessed this movement for gain, but it follows clearly.
Show threadAphrodite (recharging)Dec 26, 2022

@janet1 @JamesGleick

“Vaccine hesitancy” predates vaccines.

Back when smallpox inoculation was still around, there was criticism over a procedure that had 1/10 the mortality of the disease.

In the modern era, though, where negative post vaccination sequelae are orders of magnitude rarer and safer, unless there’s a legit medical contraindication there’s no excuse that isn’t basically the Calvinist hew and cry that ill health is deserved as a punishment from SkyGod™.

Show threadJanet Rosenbaum (she/her)
@Aphrodite Just imagine if all the people refusing vaccines and fluoride would put the same energy into lobbying for improved environmental standards. None of them are lobbying for reduced NOx exposure, only against fabricated dangers perpetuated in disinformation.
Dec 27, 2022 at 9:42pmWeb
Show threadAphrodite (recharging)Dec 28, 2022

@janet1

tldr: they can’t put that energy into societally positive purposes unless those purposes are reframed to give them the illusion or delusion of personal benefit

there is a fundamental selfishness in those actions that is exploited by malevolent actors

that selfishness is deeply baked into the us context due to the idea that health and wealth are signs of favour by $deity, and grifters exploit that mindset

like everyone in studio on Fox News is vaxxed; they push antivax bs to profit