Today’s Guest Post is a written by Dr. Christine Meyer, a Board Certified Internal Medicine doctor. This is something Jenny McCarthy, a former playboy playmate and MTV host it NOT!
Thanks ABC, Jenny McCarthy Is Just What We Needed–Not
I am admittedly irritated at the moment. My heart is beating fast, my hands are shaky and, frankly, I feel the need to slap somebody–ideally one of the executives at ABC. They have just hired Jenny McCarthy: one of the loudest anti-vaccine voices in the country.
We are already battling an avalanche of misinformation about vaccines. Slowly, we are chipping away at the myths and misconceptions. Just when I start to feel good about the issue, McCarthy gets a very tall soapbox to stand on. One, if I wasn’t a professional, I’d like to shove her right off of.
Here’s what doctors think about the whole vaccine controversy.
There isn’t one.
If you are a believer in the power of scientific evidence you understand that the questions of vaccine safety have been answered repeatedly and definitively.
Vaccines have been the absolute greatest medical accomplishment of modern times. We are now able to prevent many diseases that years ago would routinely kill or cripple our children. We have virtually eradicated polio and small pox–as in wiped them off the face of the earth. Ask a sixty-something year old with a shriveled up leg and daily pain what she thinks of vaccines. I bet she would tell you she wished they had been around before she nearly died from polio.
We all want what’s best for our kids. In fact, until I had kids of my own, I had no idea what real worry was. I dutifully brush their teeth, slather them in sunscreen and double-check their seat belts.
“But,” you say astutely. “Seat belts can kill.”
Yes, they can. If a collision happens just so and the child is strapped just so, the seat belt could cause life threatening internal injuries. But guess what? We all keep clicking.
We buckle those belts because we understand that even though they are not perfect, that there is a miniscule risk of harm from them, seat belts save lives. Period.
The exact same argument can be made for vaccines. No intervention is perfect but, like seat belts, the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks.
Perhaps if I, as a physician, can understand the reasons people refuse to vaccinate their kids, I can systematically refute them. You should know that this slow, steady approach absolutely kills me. But, stamping my feet and screaming at the top of my lungs does not seem like the best way to establish my credibility.
“MMR Causes Autism”
No, it doesn’t. Andrew Wakefield’s study was refuted, exposed as fraudulent, and retracted. He not only altered scientific data, but he profited from this lie financially. As a result of his shameful actions, thousands of parents stopped giving their children MMR. Measles outbreaks happened and children died.
“Thimerosal causes Autism”
No, it doesn’t. Dozens of studies have compared thimerosal-free with thimerosal-containing vaccines. No correlation, to date, has been found between the administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.
“All these vaccines are too much for my baby’s immune system.”
No, they are not. In 1980 just seven vaccines contained 3000 antigens (bits of proteins from bacteria and viruses.) Today, in all of the vaccines recommended for the first two years of life, there are less than 200 such antigens. Thanks to advanced manufacturing and the elimination of small pox, we are giving more vaccines while exposing children to fewer antigens.
“I’ve never heard of some of these diseases. Are these vaccines even necessary?”
Yes, they are. The reason we hear little of vaccine preventable diseases now is because of vaccines. This argument is like saying that because there are fewer motor vehicle fatalities, seat belts are no longer necessary.
“Vaccines hurt. It kills me to see my baby in pain.”
Yes, they do. But you know what would really kill you? Your baby dying of a preventable disease.
My husband, a well-respected pediatrician, has lost sleep worrying about what to do with a parent that refuses to vaccinate their child(ren). My hot-headed, maternal response is “DO NOT LET THEM INTO THE PRACTICE!”
He is much more pensive. He believes that by slowly but surely educating families and by establishing their trust in him, he is more likely to get them to do the right thing. In our area, fewer and fewer pediatricians are allowing non-vaccinating parents into their practices. And guess who suffers? The children whose lives are risked.
It is a daily, active, exhausting, and, at times, heartbreaking conversation doctors are having.
The last thing we need is an B-list celebrity with an open platform from which to spout her ignorant and potentially dangerous opinions.
SUGGESTED READING
Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All by Paul A. Offit
Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure by Paul A. Offit
The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy by Seth Mnookin
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About Christine….I am a wife and mother to three children ages 13, 11, and 6. In my “other” job, I am a practicing internal medicine physician. I am passionate about patient centered care to improve health, running to improve my state of mind, and good food ….just because I love to eat.
I blog about life, love, medicine and how they all collide unpredictably, chaotically, and often for the best.
I frequently hear “These diseases don’t even exist any more so why do we need to vaccinate for them?” It makes me crazy mad.
Me too! Drives me bonkers. My oldest daughter had brain cancer. She could not receive vaccinations for almost 2 years because of her treatment. I was so scared that my daughter would get a disease because the herd immunity failed.
She could have died from a disease that “doesn’t even exist.”
Wow. Unbelievable Trish.–what a heart ache. VACCINES ARE the reason these diseases barely exist!! Decades of achieving herd immunity and wiping out deadly diseases simply forgotten! We need to call on older folks to share their stories of death and destruction in the days before vaccines.
Sarah and Christine, I very much appreciated this post. After reading it, I slid the computer over to my husband and let him read it too. We have several friends that have chosen not to vaccinate their children and we have really struggled with whether or not it was a good idea to continue in home play dates with them, especially in the winter.
Sarah and Christine, I respect your viewpoint and I think that your passion for the cause is admirable. If I were to seek out information on the topic, I would come to a person I respect like a pediatrician, or a friend so I think that it is really helpful that you have posted the information about vaccines. I’m a little put-off by the Jenny McCarthy bashing.
It’s hard to be a “small voice” and watch someone take the reigns on a powerful message board. Our reactions are generally to bully or call-out the opponent in an unflattering way. I have done it, too and I have always regretted it.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I hope that you take this message just as it was intended. As a friendly reminder to be kind with your words and stay the course in your fight. Your message will be much more powerful that way.
Jeannette-
Thank you for taking the time to read and provide constructive feedback on the post.
I will say that I was purposeful in the “edgy” tone of this post because I firmly believe that Jenny McArthy’s actions (continuing to spread false or inaccurate information) are abhorable. I find it difficult to “play nice” when lives, especially those of children, are at stake. If I were writing a journal article or a text book chapter, obviously, my tone would have been very different. The anti-vaccine message is dangerous and wrong. That is not an opinion. That is scientific fact.
Jenny McArthy is someone I will not offer the courtesy of respect to. That is my opinion. Perhaps there should have been two different posts.
So, thanks for reading and commenting. I really am working on breathing before getting myself worked up. But, as a mother with young kids, my tiger comes out.
that picture is hilarious!!! Great post.
Thank you Christine for writing this and thank you Sarah for inviting her to guest post! It is so important that we we keep getting the word out. We need to vaccinate! Everything is in the science…
Christine, I would love to have you write a guest post or use something similar on my site. I am in PSMM and a Shot@Life Champion as well.
I would be honored to guest post for you Bridgette! Please contact me anytime.
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading your article. I do have a question about physicians turning people away for not vaccinating. What is the reason for doing this? It is a parent’s choice no matter how misguided. I’ve always been on the fence about vaccinating but I did it anyway because the alternative scared me more. I wish people would post peer reviewed trust worthy studies to back up whatever claim they are making. There is an awful lot of information flying around the internets and it’s hard to know what to believe.
Michele
That is a great question. The reason we are so reluctant to allow unvaccinated children in to practices is because of the risk they bring to other children and people. Newborn babies are especially at risk as there immunities are still being built up. An unvaccinated child maybe harboring a dangerous infection for days before the show any symptoms. If that child is in a waiting room with a healthy newborn, or child on chemo, or diabetic child etc etc…they could easily infect them with the disease. Regarding the studies–there are many great articles to read on both sides of the argument. One of the most well versed and respect physicians on the topic is Dr. Paul Offit I would encourage you to check out his site http://paul-offit.com/ While, anti-vaccine activists have at times crucified him, he remains one of the most steadfast proponents of vaccines. The vaccine he helped develop “Rotateq” has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives.
It is a polarizing topic. For me, the data so far is unquestionable.
It’s so important to refute the myths that cause so many parents not to vaccinate their children. Thank you for doing that in such a straightforward way! I don’t necessarily agree that Jenny McCarthy shouldn’t be a host of The VIew solely because of her stance on vaccines…how do we know that the topic will even come up or if it does, that ABC will allow her to say her opinion on the subject (knowing that it is so clearly wrong)? That being said, I certainly agree that her views on vaccines causing autism are WRONG. I have a question. Heather commented about bringing her kids around other children who aren’t vaccinated. If your child is already vaccinated, is there a danger in being around a child who is not?
Michele
That is a great question. The reason we are so reluctant to allow unvaccinated children in to practices is because of the risk they bring to other children and people. Newborn babies are especially at risk as there immunities are still being built up. An unvaccinated child maybe harboring a dangerous infection for days before the show any symptoms. If that child is in a waiting room with a healthy newborn, or child on chemo, or diabetic child etc etc…they could easily infect them with the disease. Regarding the studies–there are many great articles to read on both sides of the argument. One of the most well versed and respect physicians on the topic is Dr. Paul Offit I would encourage you to check out his site http://paul-offit.com/ While, anti-vaccine activists have at times crucified him, he remains one of the most steadfast proponents of vaccines. The vaccine he helped develop “Rotateq” has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives.
It is a polarizing topic. For me, the data so far is unquestionable.
Hi Lindsay
As I said, no intervention is perfect. Sometimes vaccines are not 100% effective. Sometimes, an immunized child has not had time to build up the immunity to vaccines he has received. So, a perfectly healthy child whose parents have vaccinated accordingly, could in theory still catch an infection from an unvaccinated child.
Thank you Christine for writing this. As a parent having small children, I question many things that I do, always analyzing the best option. Vaccinating my children was something that I had so many questions about. I felt/feel very lucky to have a pediatrician that has taken the time to answer my questions and have educated discussions with me about this important topic. She was patient and still is when I have questions and though extremely busy and probably frustrated by the kinds of questions the parents of her patients ask. I am so appreciative of this and the level of trust that I have for her is high. I certainly am curious to see how this new role for Jenny McCarthy plays out and hope that that she chooses not to step up on that soapbox. An educated discussion is one thing, but forcing views in her position would certainly be an unfortunate thing especially about this topic. We’ll see….
Hi Lauryn
You are right, she may not even bring up the vaccine conversation. However, I feel like giving her this opportunity is in a way validating her stance AND lifestyle. Shouldn’t there be some modicum of responsibility on those in highly visible positions? A misinformed porn star who has repeatedly used her visibility to spread misinformation–misinformation that has led to illness and death in children is the logical choice for that seat? Or, is she put there to inflame folks and get the channel turned to ABC “just to see what all the hub is about?” I don’t know. I guess it’s just a choice. I certainly will not watch The View…even if it is just as a matter of principle.