Pregnant women often get medical information from social media and websites, many of which contain misleading and false information about vaccination. Could OB-GYNs help educate them better?
Vaccinations have saved countless lives and untold suffering, even though many adults still believe vaccines are bad for their children.
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Vaccines have long been considered safe, but many people still believe they are not. A new study shows that people who think they know more than medical experts are more likely to believe that vaccine are not safe.
The scientific process and the generation of doubt : controversy versus polemic.
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Australian parents who visit complementary health practitioners are less likely to vaccinate their kids. But could these practitioners be best placed to educate sceptical parents about vaccination?
Anti-vaxxers protesting in Melbourne, Australia.
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Anti-vaxxer movement is often portrayed as a powerful force. They are anything but.
People reject science such as that about climate change and vaccines, but readily believe scientists about solar eclipses, like this one reflected on the sunglasses of a man dangerously watching in Nicosia, Cyprus, in a 2015 file photo.
(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
People universally believe scientists’ solar eclipse calendars, but vaccine warnings or climate predictions are forms of science that strangely do not enjoy equivalent acceptance.
Dozens of studies and numerous reviews have demonstrated the safety of vaccines.
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In an era when opinion often trumps evidence in public health issues, it’s time to support and invest in evidence-based medicine to protect the public from dangerous, poorly informed beliefs.
From Netflix docuseries Making a Murderer.
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Documentaries are vital vehicles for explaining the world.
Edward Jenner, who pioneered vaccination, and two colleagues (right) seeing off three anti-vaccination opponents, with the dead lying at their feet (1808).
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Some people have objected to childhood vaccination since it was introduced in the late 1700s. And their reasons sound remarkably familiar to those of anti-vaxxers today.
There are better ways to boost vaccination rates than excluding kids from child care.
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A push for all unvaccinated kids to be excluded from day care is coercive, punishes families and has no evidence to back it. Here’s what we can do instead to boost vaccination rates.
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson told Insiders: ‘You can have a test on your child first’ before vaccinating.
AAP/Richard Wainwright
Speaking on the ABC program Insiders, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson suggested there are tests available to see if children will have an adverse reaction to vaccinations. We asked three experts.
This man needs to trust you before listening to your public health message. No wonder bombarding him with facts doesn’t always work.
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Reassuring people “not to worry” about public health issues like vaccination or fluoridated water doesn’t work. Nor does telling people “don’t panic”. So, what does?
If someone is spouting pseudo-science, should scientists risk legitimising them by getting into a debate with them?
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Some scientists refuse to debate or appear with those they consider to be unscientific. But is this the best approach to combat anti-science narratives?
Protecting the herd means a certain proportion of the population has to be immunised.
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Jim Carrey’s anti-vaccination tweets employ a number of techniques used by anti-science cranks. By understanding them, we can shield ourselves from well-intentioned but ill-informed voices.
The akedah narrative – the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at God’s command – is one that has long inspired and haunted Jews, Christians and Muslims. In being prepared to kill…