# 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:** 47
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/921 "2014-05-07T05:35:54Z")
> [@PacifistPorcupine](#): > > You do realize you’re an idiot, right? :rolleyes:. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/922 "2014-05-07T06:08:47Z")
> [@PacifistPorcupine](#): > > You do realize you’re an idiot, right? Whooooosh. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/923 "2014-05-07T17:38:10Z")
[Mumps in central Ohio around 300 cases, and we have measles here too now!](http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/04/30/Mumps_and_measles_outbreaks_spreading_.html) Come visit Ohio, but bring a mask! ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/924 "2014-05-08T05:46:41Z")
If you don’t vaccinate your children be careful about taking them to the drug store or the supermarket or Home Depot. [Here](http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/potential-measles-exposure-in-fairfax-loudoun-between-april-23-may-1/2014/05/06/01ab54ec-d557-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.html) is an example of the places just one person with measles was known to have been prior to diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/925 "2014-05-14T18:37:02Z")
So I was sitting at lunch with my coworker and my boss. My coworker doesn’t have kids, but I think he’d like to have some someday. My boss has 2 teenagers and I have a 12 year old. The MERP thing came up on the TV and coworker asked “so, what did you guys do about vaccinating your kids?” Both boss and I said “we just got them done according to the usual schedule.” Coworker said “I’ve heard some things about problems with vaccines” and asked if we knew anything about it. I asked him if he meant the autism thing, the mercury thing, or the bad reactions thing? He was a little surprised that I knew exactly what he had heard. I told him that the autism thing came from a study by Andrew Wakefield that has been thoroughly discredited. The mercury thing only comes into play in multi-dose vials, and all of the standard childhood vaccines we use in the US are single-dose, and that while some bad reactions have been known to occur, they are few and far between, and that overall, the good that comes from vaccinations so far outweighs the bad that it’s not even a question. I added that we have no idea at all how horrible these diseases can be, having no experience of them. Boss didn’t know anything about the Wakefield study or the mercury, but he fully concurred about the bad reactions and the awfulness of the diseases. Boss also had no idea that anti-vaxxing was common enough in some areas that it’s compromised the herd immunity, and doesn’t seem to quite believe that this is happening in more than one or two tiny areas. I did tell him of various outbreaks, but I think it’s just hard for him to believe that any significant group of people could be so profoundly stupid as to not vaccinate their children. Oh, and coworker was completely convinced that anti-vaxxing is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/926 "2014-05-14T19:51:36Z")
How to totally freak out an anti-vaxer. Use a massive dose of the measles vaccine to cure cancer! > [@](#): > > [http://www.startribune.com/investigators/259155541.html](http://www.startribune.com/investigators/259155541.html) > > Mayo Clinic trial: Massive blast of measles vaccine wipes out cancer Amazing, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/927 "2014-05-14T20:14:44Z")
But then you’ll have autistic cancer cells! ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/928 "2014-05-14T20:40:21Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > But then you’ll have autistic cancer cells! That’s how it works - the cells go autistic and refuse to interact with your body any more. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/929 "2014-05-14T21:47:16Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I should get a blog but really this is fabulous news about the HPV vaccine. A new study from the Aussies finds it HALVES the risk of developing abnormal cells. > > [HPV vaccine halves risk of cervical cancer, new study finds - ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-05/hpv-vaccine-halves-risk-of-cercival-cancer-new/5299534) > > Get it for your girls! I got for my eldest and will get it for my little one when she is of age. Hell, we made our son, now 15, have it as well as his older sister. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/930 "2014-05-31T21:12:10Z")
Just saw this chart > **[Measles Cases In The US Reach 20-Year High](https://www.iflscience.com/measles-cases-us-reach-20-year-high-24646)** > > Measles Cases In The US Reach 20-Year High Thanks anti-vaxers keep up the good work. Assholes. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/931 "2014-07-29T16:18:33Z")
Bumping this thread again because the [Bad Astronomer put out an article on this](http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/07/29/vitamin_k_parents_refusing_injections_put_babies_at_risk.html): It seems that the anti-vaxx movement has taken to condemning Vitamin K shots after birth (which don’t even have a chance at an adverse reaction) and the result has been babies having strokes. Thanks assholes! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/932 "2014-07-29T19:23:25Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Bumping this thread again because the [Bad Astronomer put out an article on this](http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/07/29/vitamin_k_parents_refusing_injections_put_babies_at_risk.html): > > It seems that the anti-vaxx movement has taken to condemning Vitamin K shots after birth (which don’t even have a chance at an adverse reaction) and the result has been babies having strokes. Thanks assholes! Let’s see if I understand the “logic” here. Vaccines are bad. Vaccines are delivered by shots. Therefore, shots are bad. Vitamins may be delivered by shots. Shots are bad. Therefore, vitamins delivered by shots are bad. And this is from the crowd that says that all you need is vitamins and healthy living to obviate the need for vaccines? How do they not see the complete and utter contradictory absurdity of this? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/933 "2014-07-29T19:43:14Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Bumping this thread again because the [Bad Astronomer put out an article on this](http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/07/29/vitamin_k_parents_refusing_injections_put_babies_at_risk.html): > > It seems that the anti-vaxx movement has taken to condemning Vitamin K shots after birth (which don’t even have a chance at an adverse reaction) and the result has been babies having strokes. Thanks assholes! From the quoted St. Louis Dispatch article in the Slate article (triple quote score!) > [@](#): > > The CDC learned that parents refused the injection for several reasons, including an impression it was unnecessary if they had healthy pregnancies, and a desire to minimize exposure to “toxins.” \*Living \*exposes you to “toxins.” ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/934 "2014-07-31T17:27:21Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > \*Living \*exposes you to “toxins.” And your baby (mostly likely) has a working immune system, kidneys, and liver at birth to work against toxins. What it doesn’t have is enough vitamin K. :smack: [Here, educate yourself!](http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/vitamink/) ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/935 "2014-07-31T17:48:31Z")
Quick note - [Vax](http://vax.herokuapp.com/) ([http://vax.herokuapp.com/](http://vax.herokuapp.com/)) is a neat browser based tour/game of infection propagation. Sure no one’s closing Madagascar down but it’s neat to snip at the contact network and try to prevent the spread of a virus. It also has a nice little herd immunity section as well. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/936 "2014-07-31T18:26:17Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > How do they not see the complete and utter contradictory absurdity of this? Because they are paranoid imbeciles. Which means their brains don’t function properly. Which means _something_ must have _made_ their brains not function properly, because obviously brains always function properly under natural conditions. Therefore, it _must_ have been the vitamin shots they got as babies! It’s not easy to satirize something that’s already this stupid. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/937 "2014-07-31T18:43:59Z")
Cf. “[doctors](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/world/africa/ebola-epidemic-west-africa-guinea.html?_r=1) cause Ebola!”-style causation v. correlation problems. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/938 "2014-07-31T18:54:38Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > [Well, shit.](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2014/polio-20140505/en/) There, the blame lies with 1)the general poor state of education in a few Third World countries and 2)[an extraordinarily ill-advised CIA program](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-cia-fake-vaccination-campaign-endangers-us-all/) of disguising intelligence operatives as doctors, thus fomenting distrust of actual doctors. The people subjected to those circumstances at least have an excuse; the First World anti-vaxxer fraudsters and followers have none. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/939 "2014-07-31T19:57:23Z")
True, which also interferes with current HIV evaluation and treatment efforts. Doesn’t help also that passaging through shared vaccination equipment may have strengthened HIV. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119/940 "2014-07-31T20:26:25Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > And your baby (mostly likely) has a working immune system, kidneys, and liver at birth to work against toxins. What it doesn’t have is enough vitamin K. :smack: Oh, I know this. The most toxic thing these poor K-less babies are being exposed to is their parents’ rampant stupidity. When I’m Empress of the World, people who won’t let their babies get Vitamin K won’t get to keep their babies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-measles-outbreak-thank-you-andrew-fucking-wakefield/656119.md?page=48)