# Massive measles outbreak - thank you, Andrew Fucking Wakefield **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119 "2013-04-19T10:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 42
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/821 "2013-10-03T21:38:59Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It seems to me that the anger is being misdirected here. > > The stupid people will always be with us, and will do things like believe this crap and not vaccinate their kids. > > We know that. Which is why we organize things like governments and public health officials to protect society from the stupidity of some people. > > _It is the governments and public health officials of Wales who have failed here, and they are the ones who should get the anger and blame._ > > Why did they allow un-vaccinated children to enter schools & daycares in Wales? That’s a good point - your kids shouldn’t get the benefit of going to school with other kids if you won’t pay the price of admission - following the vaccination schedule. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/822 "2013-10-03T21:59:07Z")
We need to tighten vaccine exemptions. They should be for medical reasons and that’s about it. Such exemptions have had serious consequences. > [@](#): > > [Vaccination Opt-Outs Found to Contribute to Whooping Cough Outbreaks in Kids | Scientific American](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vaccination-opt-outs-found-to-contribute-to-whooping-cough-outbreaks-in-kids) > > Now, a study reveals that parental refusals to vaccinate their children may have played a part in that epidemic and possibly in a concurrent nationwide resurgence of the disease. The research found significant overlaps of areas with high numbers of whooping cough cases and areas where more parents had sought legal exemptions to opt out vaccinating their children. This article points out how easy it is to get such exemptions: > [@](#): > > All but two states—Mississippi and West Virginia—allow religious exemptions, and 19 states, including California, offer some variation of a philosophical or “personal belief” exemption, depending on the law’s language. California’s rates of nonmedical exemptions tripled from 0.77 percent in 2000 to 2.33 percent in 2010, and some schools had 2010 nonmedical exemption rates as high as 84 percent. That’s unacceptable. We need to change these kinds of laws immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/823 "2013-10-03T23:37:19Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It seems to me that the anger is being misdirected here. > > The stupid people will always be with us, and will do things like believe this crap and not vaccinate their kids. > > We know that. Which is why we organize things like governments and public health officials to protect society from the stupidity of some people. > > _It is the governments and public health officials of Wales who have failed here, and they are the ones who should get the anger and blame._ Bullshit. Wakefield is directly responsible for spreading misinformation that he himself fraudulently created, leading parents to make decisions that placed their children and other people at risk. We should absolutely direct anger and blame toward him for those behaviors. There’s plenty of blame to go around here. > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Why did they allow un-vaccinated children to enter schools & daycares in Wales? I completely agree, but that doesn’t let Wakefield off the hook for his fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/824 "2013-11-13T15:58:25Z")
Another bump. The anti-vax crowd has been pushing through a nice little lie about how “the courts confirmed that vaccines caused autism!”. It was enough that [Forbes has replied](http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2013/08/09/court-rulings-dont-confirm-autism-vaccine-link/). Once again it is the old blurb misunderstanding what the ‘vaccine courts’ are for combined with some tripe ruling made by an Italian court once they were done convicting geologists. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/825 "2014-02-12T11:41:31Z")
[Here](http://www.everydayhealth.com/sanjay-gupta/flu-shot-reduces-risk-of-autism.aspx) is a delightful bit of irony re the antivaxers. Turns out that not only do vaccines _not_ cause autism (which, of course, non-WONJCT already knew), but rather there’s a vaccine that actually _reduces_ the risk of the child having autism. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/826 "2014-02-12T19:35:22Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [Here](http://www.everydayhealth.com/sanjay-gupta/flu-shot-reduces-risk-of-autism.aspx) is a delightful bit of irony re the antivaxers. Turns out that not only do vaccines _not_ cause autism (which, of course, non-WONJCT already knew), but rather there’s a vaccine that actually _reduces_ the risk of the child having autism. [HA-HA!](http://youtu.be/rX7wtNOkuHo) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/827 "2014-02-12T19:40:02Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [Here](http://www.everydayhealth.com/sanjay-gupta/flu-shot-reduces-risk-of-autism.aspx) is a delightful bit of irony re the antivaxers. Turns out that not only do vaccines _not_ cause autism (which, of course, non-WONJCT already knew), but rather there’s a vaccine that actually _reduces_ the risk of the child having autism. What’s that sound? I think that’s the sound of Jenny McCarthy’s head exploding. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/828 "2014-02-12T20:59:41Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think that’s the sound of Jenny McCarthy’s head exploding. 😃 😃 😃 We should be so lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/829 "2014-02-12T21:02:38Z")
Wow, did you look at the comments to that article? Serious crazy right there! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/830 "2014-02-12T21:05:09Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [Here](http://www.everydayhealth.com/sanjay-gupta/flu-shot-reduces-risk-of-autism.aspx) is a delightful bit of irony re the antivaxers. Turns out that not only do vaccines _not_ cause autism (which, of course, non-WONJCT already knew), but rather there’s a vaccine that actually _reduces_ the risk of the child having autism. But this study was done by scientists so it must be wrong. Only celebrities, bloggers, and next door neighbors should be trusted to provide accurate information. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/831 "2014-02-12T21:21:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Wow, did you look at the comments to that article? Serious crazy right there! Ugh, that was depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/832 "2014-02-12T22:13:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What’s that sound? I think that’s the sound of Jenny McCarthy’s head exploding. 😃 😃 😃 How much of an explosion could be caused by something so tiny (and mostly empty)? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/833 "2014-02-12T22:24:29Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Wow, did you look at the comments to that article? Serious crazy right there! No. In the words of a Dilbert panel I have saved on my computer, “When you find a big kettle of crazy, it’s best not to stir it.” ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/834 "2014-02-12T23:04:26Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > How much of an explosion could be caused by something so tiny (and mostly empty)? Maybe it was actually an implosion. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/835 "2014-02-13T00:11:04Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Maybe it was actually an implosion. Nature does abhor a vacuum, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/836 "2014-02-13T03:14:04Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > How much of an explosion could be caused by something so tiny (and mostly empty)? It would be more of an implosion, really. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/837 "2014-02-13T04:43:40Z")
Can you imagine if these people were around back in the sixties? We’d still be worrying about fucking _smallpox_! ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/838 "2014-02-13T04:45:44Z")
see next post ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/839 "2014-02-13T04:49:46Z")
When you’re allied with the [fucking Taliban](http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/02/12/why_war_itself_is_the_problem_with_the_war_on_polio_afghanistan_kabul) you know you’re doing something wrong. Sixth century morals and sixth century science do not make for a pleasant combination. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/840 "2014-02-13T21:09:57Z")
I’ll be expecting Jenny’s rantfest against kites soon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119.md?page=43)