Topic 3: Over the past two decades, damaging misinformation and fear mongering have dominated our lives. From world news to GMO crops to medicine, it is pervasive in our society. For me, when children are involved is when it goes too far. Children are a red line in the sand that we cannot let be crossed as they cannot make major medical decisions for themselves. For this discussion we are going to be discussing the issue about vaccine hesitancy and the modern anti-vaxx movement in a very direct way because the lives of our children are quite literally at stake.

Before you read further, I want you to take a moment and think about the vaccine issue we face today. Think to yourself, are vaccines safe? Do vaccines cause Autism or Crohn's or any other chronic disorder? Where do vaccine injury myths come from? I wrote this short article a few years back and it is sadly still very relevant in today's headlines with regard to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and backlash.

I Want Your Fear: How Andrew Wakefield Changed the Vaccination Conversation through Greed and Deception (Links here: https://usrepresented.com/2017/08/31/i-want-your-fear/)

Now, that you have read this article. I would like you to address the questions below:

1. How do you feel knowing about the fear that Wakefield et al., and his faked Lancet paper caused in modern society?

2. From a data and fact based scientific perspective, (take your personal belief out of it) do you think that vaccines are unsafe? Were they ever unsafe? Why or why not? It is of the utmost importance that all views are respected here. Be civil and respectful in your responses. Remember, 99% of you are fully vaccinated.

3. Do you think that education systems in the United States should continue to mandate that children be fully vaccinated before being admitted to public schools? Currently, this is the law of the land.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

1 I feel disappointed frustrated and worried knowing about the fear that Wakefield and his colleague... View the full answer