# Who else is getting sick of anti-vaxxers re:H1N1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651 "2009-10-29T20:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/21 "2009-10-30T00:05:32Z")
An LJ comm I frequent is filled with both anti-vaxxers and what I call ‘the birth elite’ (y’know the type, not just opposed to hospitals but absolutely convinced that if you don’t have a dolphin for a midwife that you’re psychologically scarring your baby for life). I posted a thread a while back, right before the school year, about how Merck (and probably other Big Pharma companies) provide free or low-cost vaccines, including some such as MMR, Pneumococcal, and Hepatitis that some schools require their students have, but also Gardasil (HPV vaccine). Now this part is important, because literally the first response I got was someone earnestly telling me that: > [@](#): > > People are dying from the Gardasil vaccination… …With a cite from an anti-vax group to ‘prove’ this, along with this gem: > [@](#): > > Please be careful. It doesn’t prevent cervical cancer and it only prevents a few of hundreds of strains of HPV. I replied to this poster explaining, very coherently I felt, that I had taken all reasonable measures before getting the Gardasil shot, including reading medical literature and discussing my choice with my doctor, and moreover, I am a responsible adult woman that can choose what I do with my own body. Here’s what I got: > [@](#): > > Dude… many people who contract HIV are alive and kicking… some risk their lives with wild animals and are still alive and kicking.. many smoke like chimneys and are still alive and kicking. > > Does that make any of those things wise choices? I don’t know dude.. What do you think? > > Seriously though, I’m glad you’re well. But just because something doesn’t harm one person, doesn’t mean it won’t harm another. The young girls who are sterile now may not think the vaccine was worth it- and I’m pretty sure that the Mothers of the dead girls don’t see much value in the vaccine either. But clearly, YMMV. So getting vaccinated against HPV puts me in the same risk group as HIV+ people, people who run around in the woods with bears and stuff, and lifelong chain-smokers? Another poster pointed out that the ‘facts’ in the article the anti-vaxxer linked to were misinterpreted findings from another research article. Not only was this anti-vaxxer preaching to me about how Gardasil was going to kill or sterilize me, her only evidence was completely wrong. And all this was caused because I was providing a link so people could get free or low-cost vaccines that they might need for school. ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/22 "2009-10-30T17:39:41Z")
Here’s what pisses me off - there is nothing, short of a HUGE number of people dying from H1N1, that is going to shut those people up. So if the vaccination efforts are successful, which I hope they are, then this will further their belief that it was all nothing. There is a small, evil part of me that kind of wants to get it so I can go cough on some antivaxers. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/23 "2009-10-30T18:01:23Z")
I’m not _getting_ sick of antivaxers. I was already well and truly sick of them before anyone was talking about swine flu. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/24 "2009-10-30T18:20:57Z")
> [@Gesturing\_Mildly](#): > > Here’s what pisses me off - there is nothing, short of a HUGE number of people dying from H1N1, that is going to shut those people up. That won’t shut them up, either. That’ll just prove their point, in their minds - if people didn’t get vaccinated, they wouldn’t have died. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/25 "2009-10-30T18:44:48Z")
That’s the problem with preventive treatment: if it’s successful, people get complacent about it. And I guess the end result is some of us have to get killed. Thanks a lot, Jenny McCarthy. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/26 "2009-10-30T19:48:43Z")
> [@Coup\_Fourre](#): > > I do believe we were given immune systems for a reason. The more we “tweak” nature, the more it fights back. How do you think vaccines work? The vaccine itself doesn’t protect you from H1N1; it gets your own immune system to protect you from the virus. In a way, vaccines are the one of the most ‘natural’ methods of health protection ever devised by mankind. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/27 "2009-10-30T20:00:17Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > How do you think vaccines work? The vaccine itself doesn’t protect you from H1N1; it gets your own immune system to protect you from the virus. In a way, vaccines are the one of the most ‘natural’ methods of health protection ever devised by mankind. Oh yeah? Then why aren’t the mentioned in the Bible then? HMMMMmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/28 "2009-10-30T20:47:09Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > How do you think vaccines work? The vaccine itself doesn’t protect you from H1N1; it gets your own immune system to protect you from the virus. In a way, vaccines are the one of the most ‘natural’ methods of health protection ever devised by mankind. That’s a good point. Are the anti-vaxxers even aware of how vaccines work? The whole concept of letting your system build an immunity to a miniscule amount of a virus on it’s own so it in effect becomes immune to the simialr virus. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/29 "2009-10-30T20:56:11Z")
Have you all read the Wired article about anti-vacc’ers and the autism hysteria? [An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All](http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_waronscience/) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/30 "2009-10-30T21:12:57Z")
I forget who said it but someone wrote, “you can’t reason someone one out of a position they haven’t reasoned themselves into.” That just about sums up the anti-vax movement in a single sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/31 "2009-10-30T21:16:15Z")
What about all those who are claiming the flu epidemic is a scare tactic cooked up by Obama to enforce socialized medicine in this country? What about the polio epidemic in Nigeria caused by people who thought the polio vaccine was an American plot to kill Muslims? Crazy knows no limits. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/32 "2009-10-30T21:18:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think this is the whole list: the priority groups are health care workers, the elderly, people with immune and respiratory diseases, pregnant women, and kids between 6 months and 24 years old. Caregivers of children under 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Hirundo82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/919ad9/32.png) [@Hirundo82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirundo82)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/33 "2009-10-30T22:29:10Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Have you all read the Wired article about anti-vacc’ers and the autism hysteria? > > [An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All](http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_waronscience/) I was coming in here to post that as well. I was glad to see Paul Offit get exposure in a mainstream magazine. His book, [Autism’s False Prophets](http://www.amazon.com/Autisms-False-Prophets-Science-Medicine/dp/0231146361/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256941459&sr=8-1), is definitely worth reading. It was a pretty good article, although they should have gone into more detail about the diseases vaccines had virtually wiped out and are now returning because of the anti-vax movements. They only mentioned the Hib vaccine, which I think is one of the best examples because Hib meningitis was a major problem in recent memory (1980’s) and now is virtually non-existent. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/34 "2009-10-30T23:59:33Z")
I had to deal with one today. After a couple of back and forths with her, I decided to let her believe in her little conspiracy theory. She left early today because she’s sick. Sure hope it’s because of the swine flu. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/35 "2009-10-31T02:10:54Z")
I have one word for the anti-vaccinationists - **smallpox**. Wouldn’t it be fun to eradicate all diseases? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/36 "2009-10-31T02:19:14Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Wouldn’t it be fun to eradicate all diseases? Only if we can start with stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/37 "2009-10-31T02:43:27Z")
I posted in another thread that there seems to be a whole extra special layer of “crazy” surrounding the pig flu vaccine. I don’t know if this kind of crazy surrounds all vaccines, or just the ones with good publicity like Guardasil and the H1N1 vax, but I too have FB friends who post about the WHO and Rockefellers’ secret plan to depopulate the world through use of these vaccines. It’s kinda entertaining, actually, so long as you read it like outlandish sci-fi or something. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/38 "2009-10-31T02:44:50Z")
Against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain. I remember that from a Isaac Asimov novel, but I don’t know if it originated with him or someone else… When someone develops an anti-stupid vaccine, I’ll be the first in line. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/39 "2009-10-31T02:51:47Z")
Being 31 weeks pregnant (GAH! HOMESTRETCH! EEK! :::nestnestnestnest::: ), I’ve heard and read way more than I care to from girls on a pregnancy message board who are just freaked about this and won’t listen to research and reason. A couple of months ago, I [started a thread here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=530800)because _every single girl_ in a thread on the H1N1 vaccine over at the pregnancy forums was spouting, “No, it’s unsafe, I don’t trust the government/drug companies/etc.” I shook my head and walked away after calmly and concisely explaining the reason behind why I would be getting the vaccine. Then a month ago, I came down with [what my OB is convinced was H1N1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=535344). (The culture they did was negative, but the test is only 40-60% accurate if done early in the illness; I was tested on day six, after a full regimen of Tamiflu. My OB completely dismissed the results.) Despite the Tamiflu, I ran a fever nearly two weeks, needed to go in to my doc for a breathing treatment, missed over a week of work, and spent many days in an achey, fatigued fog on the couch. Through this, I posted a tad about my struggle with the illness on the forums. A few girls posted something to the effect of, “I wasn’t going to get the H1N1 vaccine, but after reading what you’ve gone through, I’ve changed my mind.” That’s not the ideal way to fight ignorance, but hey, if it helps keep them safe and wises them up, so be it. Now there’s a thread about someone who actually got the vaccine, and the ratio has been inverted: now nearly all girls posting are saying they are getting the vaccine, with just two or three saying they won’t because it’s supposedly not tested and the like. I’m guessing as we all near the end of our pregnancy and hear more about women DYING because of this (just three days ago, a woman in her 5th month died in my local area after succumbing to complications from H1N1), it’s less conjecture and more reality. A big, scary reality. And note–even though my OB is convinced I had H1N1, I’m scheduled to get the vaccine this Wednesday anyway. I don’t want to find out the hard way that his belief was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651/40 "2009-10-31T05:22:30Z")
I’m not an antivaxer, but I’ve also never had actual influenza (or it was so mild it didn’t even last 24 hours). I also had a seizure from a shot when I was 16 months and almost died (well, they thought I was dead for like 45 minutes). So when I was required to get a booster of that particular shot to get into junior high, I went out of my way to prove I was already immune and didn’t need it. And I am now left with an irrational fear of taking any shot that I don’t absolutely **need**. I guess my main point is don’t assume that everyone who doesn’t want to get the shot is an antivaxer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-is-getting-sick-of-anti-vaxxers-re-h1n1/515651.md?page=3)