I’m not a parent at all, let alone of a child with autism. But you have to wonder what goes through these idiots’ heads. Do they seriously think that autism is somehow worse than a child dying of a deadly but preventable disease? (Yes, I know autism isn’t caused by vaccines. But the way they talk, you’d think autism is the ultimate death sentence, unlike something like measles, or whooping cough)
I mean, some think it’s worse than cancer.
(Like I said, maybe I’m naive, I’m not a parent. But surely the thought of having a child with a severe disability can’t be as bad as a dead child.)
Probably brain damage due to vaccines. Didja know that Hillary Clinton exhibits all the signs of vaccine brain poisoning???
While I have some inkling, I’m sure I can’t begin to comprehend the anguish felt by parents of a child with severe autism who is uncommunicative, exhibits self-destructive behavior etc., has no immediate prospect of improvement and might have to be permanently institutionalized once they can no longer care for him/her.
Some parents understandably are searching for someone/something to blame. This of course does not excuse the more extreme reactions that target public health (and sometimes, their perceived “enemies”).
And it should be remembered that a number of the most vociferous and extreme antivaxers do not have autistic family members or illnesses for which they blame vaccines. They may fall into the libertarian camp, have far-out religious beliefs, adhere to paranoia-tinged conspiracy theories etc.
I wouldn’t normally post to something on imgur that is perhaps one step up from facebook glurge but I read this and I actually think it is very insightful:
Interesting new study that seems (unlike some previous studies) to have found a way to convince vaccine skeptics: show them graphic pictures of children damaged by preventable disease.
As suspected, skeptics have suffered a failure of imagination through being shielded too long.
Since I don’t have access to the full paper, I can’t tell how “vaccine skeptics” were defined.
If by this term they mean parents with worries about immunization that can’t be allayed by non-graphic means, that’s one thing. On the other hand, I am extremely doubtful that any hard-core antivaxers of the NVIC/Age of Autism/NaturalNews ilk will be swayed by horrifying photos of children suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases. They’ll reply with accusations that the images are frauds trumped up by Big Pharma, that these diseases were vanquished before vaccines by better hygiene/diet/positive thoughts, or counter that “vaccine damage” is much more prevalent and devastating.
Any strategy that peels more people with semi-open minds away from the crazy-shouters is, of course, welcome.
