Measles is all sunshine and rainbows?

[Lace Neil Singer]

Jenny McCarthy thinks some childhood vaccine caused her son's autism.

What she believes is a study which has been disproved dozens of times and the doctor who came up with it roundly bashed.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...960277,00.html

This has resulted in measles cases rising, which means that loads more kids are suffering with the disease, some ending up deaf or with brain damage, others dying. Even if the study was genuine, surely anyone with intellect and compassion would prefer their child to be autistic rather than dead or with serious health problems?

[fireheart17]

As far as the vaccine = autism link, I tend to urge people to look up what happened in Japan. Amidst the controversy, they switched to single doses of each of the vaccines (so one each of measles, mumps and rubella rather than all three in one shot) and discovered that the rate of autism wasn't dropping.

[Dreamstalker]

The vaccine-conspiracy nuts would only take that as proof that they're 'right'. The autism rate did not go down, so it must be something else in the vaccine that causes it

[HYHYBT]

Even if the study was genuine, surely anyone with intellect and compassion would prefer their child to be autistic rather than dead or with serious health problems?

Well, that would depend on the rate of each. Or, more specifically, the *perceived* rate of each. Given a choice between autistic and dead, I'd prefer an autistic child.... but make the chance (as understood by the parent) of autism large enough and the chance (likewise) of death small enough... well, I mean, when I had my wisdom teeth out I had to sign that I understood I might die during the procedure. Which is worse, having too many teeth or being dead?

(Any interpretation of this post which concludes I am against vaccinations, or that I agree they have anything at all to do with autism, is wrong. )

[ben_who]

Well, you're not going to argue with industrial-grade stupid like that, but could it be that she's mistaking measles for chicken pox?

[fireheart17]

Well the immunisation argument wound up being reignited today with a massive ass debate on it.

Specifically, the number of objectors has gone up in Australia from something like 400 to over 30,000. I can understand not being immunised for medical reasons, but because you believe misinformation is absolutely stupid...

[Nyoibo]

But its the truth, all the literature that refutes the claims are just a conspiracy of doctors and government being paid off by "big pharma".

[HYHYBT]

Well the immunisation argument wound up being reignited today with a massive ass debate on it.

Well THAT, at least, is easily solved: let them know they can take it in the arm instead.

[fireheart17]

But its the truth, all the literature that refutes the claims are just a conspiracy of doctors and government being paid off by "big pharma".

I always challenge them to name which big pharma provides what vaccination and how much they pay the doctors/nurses/council folks.

[Nyoibo]

I pretty much refuse to listen to anything that uses the term "big pharma" it's a load of bollocks, call it corporate pharmacology if you need something to label it, it would be a tad more accurate, "big pharma" has about as much legitimacy to it as the illuminati and most people who use the term should be viewed in the same way as those who carry on about the illuminati.

[fireheart17]

I pretty much refuse to listen to anything that uses the term "big pharma" it's a load of bollocks, call it corporate pharmacology if you need something to label it, it would be a tad more accurate, "big pharma" has about as much legitimacy to it as the illuminati and most people who use the term should be viewed in the same way as those who carry on about the illuminati.

I have a new name for them after visiting the newsagent the other day...

"New dawn subscribers"

Basically, said magazine is home to the conspiracy nuts. And I mean absolute conspiracy nuts. The type who talk about a new world order.

[SongsOfDragons]

Well, you're not going to argue with industrial-grade stupid like that, but could it be that she's mistaking measles for chicken pox?

Or scarlet fever? AFAIK they both involve red dotty rash.

*sails off to the land of Wiki to look it up*

As long as none of these morons ever get to become Minister for Health, it's safe to ignore them