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Hannah Gadsby has a message for anti-vaxxers
In "Douglas," the Australian comedian opens up about her autism diagnosis.
08 June, 2020
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for AFI
- In her new Netflix special, "Douglas," comedian Hannah Gadsby targets anti-vaxxers.
- Diagnosed with autism four years ago, Gadsby discusses the dangers of believing vaccinations cause autism.
- Some high-profile anti-vax activists use their platform in order to sell supplements and books.
<p>Hannah Gadsby couldn't understand why people kept telling her she might have autism. She believed the developmental disorder mostly applied to young boys. Then the Australian comedian was <a href="https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/nanette-hannah-gadsby-autism-tv-comedy-netflix/218114" target="_blank">diagnosed</a> with autism and ADHD four years ago, fitting a lot of pieces into the puzzle of her life, including her response to constant noise and motion while on stage and the feeling of being sober in a room full of drunk people (or vice-versa) all of the time. </p><p>The diagnosis came shortly after her comedy special, "Nanette," was receiving critical praise around the planet. Growing up lesbian in a conservative Tasmanian community, "Nanette" is a powerful social commentary merging with raw storytelling. Her emotional roller coaster makes it difficult to distinguish tears from laughter or despair. That's the point. </p><p>After considering quitting comedy, Gadsby returned with "Douglas." As with "Nanette," it's difficult to label it comedy. Pure and simple, Gadsby is a masterful storyteller. While she touches upon a number of issues in her latest special—the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recto-uterine_pouch" target="_blank">pouch of Douglas</a>, patriarchy, Renaissance art—grappling with autism and, specifically, anti-vaxxers, is the highlight.</p><p>Anti-vax rhetoric is <a href="https://undark.org/2020/04/16/anti-vaccine-covid-19/" target="_blank">thriving</a> during this pandemic; its trajectory had already been rising. A <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/276929/fewer-continue-vaccines-important.aspx" target="_blank">Gallup poll</a> from January found the number of American adults that believe vaccinating their children is "extremely or very important" dropped 10 percentage points from 2001. This is still a far cry from a <a href="https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/vaccines-vaccination/45-percent-surveyed-american-adults-doubt-vaccine-safety" target="_blank">suspect survey</a> by an osteopathic group claiming 45 percent of adults are vaccine-hesitant. Still, the number is moving in the wrong direction.</p>
How Hannah Gadsby's High-Functioning Autism Works | Netflix Is A Joke
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b2bb91d719bd25e853753d4ade362893"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5lXbpgU9OWk?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>In a scathing yet hilarious indictment of the anti-vax movement, Gadsby says activists are highly organized and coordinated. They're also prone to "willfully manipulate statistics," as the osteopathic study proves. This doesn't change the fact that anti-vaxxers are woefully outnumbered, however loud social media seems. Tragically, the loudest voice in the room gets taken seriously, sometimes. </p><p>After discussing her autism diagnosis, Gadsby begins the skit. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Do you know what causes autism? No, you f***ing don't. If you honestly think you do, your confidence is making you stupid." </p><p>She's aware anti-vaxxers are likely in the room. Her core demographic is wealthy, entitled white women, which is "a Venn diagram with a lot of crossover." Gadsby holds no hope in changing minds, because that's not how closed minds work: "They don't work; they're closed for business." </p><p>She then pretends vaccines cause autism, although "pretending is not science." She's not upset about being on the spectrum. That doesn't mean having autism is easy; quite the contrary. It's difficult to always be the odd one out. That said, Gadsby brilliantly advocates for autism. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"As difficult as this life is, it's nice to have a life. And it's particularly nice to have this life in a world without polio. Polio is bad, and that is a fact, not a feeling."</p><p>Text on a screen will never compare to Gadsby's delivery: the crescendo of "polio," the playful yet serious expression on her face when delivering this information. Her critique doesn't stop there. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"I would rather have autism than be a sociopath like you."</p><p>Tough statement, which she qualifies. Believing your child is more important than all other children means you're not playing for the team. You've wrapped yourself up so tightly in a belief system that self-righteousness has become your creed. Far from being a posture on Twitter, this mindset has real-world consequences. </p><p>First, there's the economic angle. Discredited physician Andrew Wakefield, who was <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347" target="_blank">paid to falsify data</a> in his infamous measles vaccine-autism study, <a href="http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/epidemiology/hanley/c609/Material/BMJpartII.pdf" target="_blank">filed a patent</a> for a single-jab measles vaccine as the same time he was decrying vaccines. His objective appears to have been financial from day one. </p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM3NzEyMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODU4ODMwN30.eZlNT53fdAy_5rWj_TZTsq5BlQ9mFZb3LsXvkGrKGVA/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C27%2C0%2C77&height=700" id="8aeb2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9273ef3331cc5687217da72e1b803b6d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Protesters hold banners against the 5G technology and vaccines as others shout slogans during an anti-government protest in front of the parliament in Sofia on May 14, 2020.
Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP via Getty Images
<p>Wakefield isn't the only opportunist. Osteopath Joseph Mercola's net worth has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2019/10/15/fdc01078-c29c-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html" target="_blank">grown to over $100 million</a> as he promotes his products to anti-vaxxers. Then there's Judy Mikovits, the subject of the discredited film, "<a href="https://bigthink.com/coronavirus/the-plandemic" target="_self">Plandemic</a>," whose book <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/plandemic-judy-mikovits-plague-of-corruption-998224/" target="_blank">became a bestseller</a> after the film's release. Her book was published by a house whose <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9WuTxRZFNQ&t=74s" target="_blank">sole focus</a> is promoting anti-vaccination rhetoric.</p><p>Second, the health consequences. As Gadsby says, anti-vaxxers are coordinated. Two case studies: Samoa and Orthodox Judaism. </p><p>Recently anti-vax rhetoric has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/samoa-has-become-a-case-study-for-anti-vax-success/2019/12/09/76848830-1ac8-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html" target="_blank">rooted</a> in Samoa. The result: over 4,000 children were infected with measles last fall. At least 70 died. An anti-vax advocate <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50682881" target="_blank">promoted</a> the use of papaya leaf for treating measles; he was later arrested. The situation was so bad, the Samoan government declared a state of emergency and banned children under the age of 17 from gathering publicly. </p><p>Anti-vax rhetoric <a href="https://khn.org/news/why-measles-hits-so-hard-within-n-y-orthodox-jewish-community/" target="_blank">also hit</a> Orthodox Jewish communities hard last year. In March, 2019 over 275 cases of measles were confirmed in New York state. The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/meet-the-new-york-couple-donating-millions-to-the-anti-vax-movement/2019/06/18/9d791bcc-8e28-11e9-b08e-cfd89bd36d4e_story.html" target="_blank">funding</a> for this effort was provided by a wealthy Manhattan couple that has donated over $3 million to anti-vax organizations. One group is Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vax organization run by a former television producer that specifically targets Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County. </p><p>"Douglas" is a masterful piece of common sense propaganda. Gadsby is ready for the vitriol certain to come her way for exposing the public to basic science. She snacks on hate. Following that statement, she stares out into the crowd to ask if they understand why she would eat the bluster of haters. Her response is priceless.<br></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"It builds immunity; it's called microdosing. Your hate is my vaccine."</p><p>A slight pause. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"What are you going to do? I already have autism."</p><p>--</p><p><em>Stay in touch with Derek on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://derekberes.substack.com/" target="_blank">Substack</a>. His next book is</em> "<em>Hero's Dose: The Case For Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy."</em></p>
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Vaccines in no way cause autism, massive new study finds
More vaccine-autism facts for the fact-averse.
07 March, 2019
(Robin Utrecht/AFP/Getty Images)
- A massive new study finds absolutely no link between MMR vaccination and autism.
- Some question the expenditure of yet more research money on convincing conspiracy theorists.
- There are already 206 measles cases this year in the U.S., and the disease is up by 30% globally, despite previous near-eradication.
<p>Measles were <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">eliminated</a> in the U.S. in 2000. Those were the days. Now it's back, with <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">206 cases in 11 states</a> already confirmed this year. Measles' return is due to an <a href="https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180620vaccineexempts.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">increasing number of parents</a> opting not to vaccinate their kids with the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/mmr.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">MMR vaccine</a>, a 97% effective treatment against measles, mumps, and rubella. It's a frustrating and frightening development for other parents who have done their part by having their own children vaccinated to keep these highly communicable diseases from spreading to everyone's kids. The anti-vaxxer movement is based on research from a single UK-based doctor, Andrew Wakefield, who erroneously linked vaccinations to a rising incidence of children with autism. By 2010, more scrupulous researchers had <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/7095145/GMC-brands-Dr-Andrew-Wakefield-dishonest-irresponsible-and-callous.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">completely debunked his claims</a>. Yet widespread belief in his claims has proven remarkably resilient.</p><p><a href="https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2727726/measles-mumps-rubella-vaccination-autism-nationwide-cohort-study" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">A comprehensive study</a> just published in <em>Annals of Internal Medicine</em> and based on 10 years of data and half a million people hopes to finally, authoritatively, put Wakefield's spurious and dangerous claims to rest. Of course, with anti-vaxxers motivated by paranoia, blame-shifting, a distrust of experts, or just stubbornness, it's anyone's guess if it will help.</p>
The 2019 Danish vaccine-autism study
<p>The study from scientists at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut finds no statistical link whatsoever between the administration of MMR doses and the likelihood of developing autism. It also found no correlation between areas in which vaccines are administered and clusters of autism diagnoses occur. In fact, as the anti-vax movement has grown, so has the incidence of autism, from 1 out of 68 eight-year-olds having it in 2016, to <a href="http://www.autism-society.org/news/2018-cdc-autism-incidence-rate-statement-from-the-autism-society/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">1 out of 59 in 2018</a>.</p><p>The researchers studied the medical histories of Danish children born between 1999 and the end of 2010. Using population registries, they were able assess other risk factors — including sibling histories of autism — and look for correspondences between vaccinations and the occurrence of autism. Speaking of the statistics presented in the study, global health expert <a href="http://vaccines.emory.edu/faculty-evc/primary-faculty/omer_saad.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Saad Omer</a> tells the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/03/05/measles-vaccine-doesnt-cause-autism-says-new-decade-long-study-half-million-people/?utm_term=.b8972078fe24" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Washington Post</em></a>, "The appropriate interpretation is that there's no association whatsoever."</p>Money well spent or wasted?
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTI1ODc0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjMyMTI3Nn0.vYCGA4qiVQfOniVQ7psQueQDLUvAGp-D_DFagc6TYE8/img.jpg?width=980" id="92bd1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="16890fa6a8ed7970265eae363c83ac0c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty Images)
<p>Dispositive as the new study's evidence is, Omer and others consider it questionable to use research money sorely needed elsewhere to convince anti-vaxxers. As bioethicist <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/sydmjohnson/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Syd M Johnson</a> says, "They are immune to facts." Alongside the study in <em>Annals</em> is an <a href="https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2727208/further-evidence-mmr-vaccine-safety-scientific-communications-considerations" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">editorial</a> by Omer decrying this waste of time, effort, and money on people living in what he calls a "fact-resistant" world.</p><p>Omer's concerned that anti-vaxxer beliefs undermine general public faith in vaccines, so he sees value in spending <em>some</em> money on continuing to gather contrary evidence, but only "if the cost, including the opportunity cost, of these studies is not too high." By "opportunity cost," Omer refers to the lost chance of developing cures with these funds, warning, "continuing to evaluate the MMR-autism hypothesis might come at the expense of not pursuing some of the more promising leads."</p>A teen leading the way
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTI1ODc1OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Mzg5MjM3Nn0.z45s5snGwksRvU2UCoPtHwEwHTJLkOw1OD8w6jYmAtc/img.jpg?width=980" id="7b218" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="18e486afe78bcfe29e74f940d86c571f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Ethan Lindenberger addresses the U.S. Senate.
(Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)
<p>The new report coincides with last week's worrying hearing in the U.S. Senate at which 18-year-old <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/06/700617424/18-year-old-testifies-about-getting-vaccinated-despite-mothers-anti-vaccine-beli" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Ethan Lindenberger</a> testified about his decision to get himself vaccinated against the wishes of his parents. He's written on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/9xm989/my_parents_are_kind_of_stupid_and_dont_believe_in/?st=JRTFJJR5&sh=0b2c98a8" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Reddit</a> that his mother became convinced from Facebook posts that vaccinations "are some kind of government scheme." His Reddit thread says, "I have an appointment in a few weeks to get my shots! My mom was especially angry but my dad said because I'm 18 he doesn't care that much. Although my mom's trying to convince me to not do it and saying I don't care about her, I know that this is something I need to do regardless."</p><p>Facebook <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/02/15/facebook-will-consider-removing-or-demoting-anti-vaccination-recommendations-amid-backlash/?utm_term=.f3f6430fe4d0" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">claims</a> to have "taken steps to reduce the distribution of health-related misinformation on Facebook, but we know we have more to do." On March 6, Facebook announced a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-plans-tackle-anti-vaccine-misinformation-rejecting-ads-de-ranking-pages-2019-3" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">new plan</a>. </p>Your child or mine?
<p>It's understandable that anti-vaxxer parents expect to be able to control the health decisions regarding their own children, but unfortunately, their kids — and the other with whom they come in contact — are not immune to infectious diseases.</p><p>As a result, everyone else has no choice but to sit by and watch the unwarranted return of serious diseases. Many U.S. states allow "religious" exemptions that allow parents to opt out of vaccinating their children, but it's not just a U.S. problem. With the prevalence of measles up by 30% globally, the World Health Organization ranks "<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">vaccine hesitancy</a>" among the top 10 threats to global health in 2019, at a cost of 1.5 million lives annually .</p>
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Why Are So Many Musical Geniuses Asocial? A New Study Reveals an Interesting Link
Musical savants have “enhanced pitch discrimination” and “increased auditory perceptual capacity.” But why?
13 May, 2017
Do those with autism experience music as a richer experience? Getty Images.
We often see in the media autistic savants who can write and play music like grand masters with incredible talent and flourish. In fact, of autistic savants and savants in general, having extraordinary musical talent is one of the most common advantages. A new study published in the journal Cognition, suggests a reason for it. Those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have superior hearing.
<p>Some of the advantages include “enhanced pitch discrimination” and “increased auditory perceptual capacity.” Even so, ASD people often find normal, neutral sounds grating. This may be because their auditory system takes in more sound than neurotypical people. Said differently, they have a higher capacity.</p> <p>Investigators conducted two behavioral experiments to discover these differences in auditory perception and how it led to certain advantages and challenges for those with ASD. Anna Remington and Jake Fairnie were the two researchers who conducted the study. They hail from the Centre for Research in Autism and Education, at the UCL Institute of Education, in the UK.</p> <p>The study participants were 20 young adults with ASD and 20 neurotypical young adults, all between the ages of 17 and 34. They each participated in two computer-based tests. In the first, an audio file with a bunch of animal sounds was played and the listener had to determine if they heard a dog barking or a lion roaring within the jumble. Those with better auditory perception would have an advantage in this task. Participants with autism ended up scoring much higher than those in the control group, Remington and Fairnie found.</p> <p>In the second task, participants listened to a recording of people at a party. They overheard a conversation and had to answer questions about it at the end. To rankle autistic participants, a portion of the recording had a man come in and say repeatedly <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-05-people-autism-mostwhich-strength.html" target="_blank" title="Medical Xpress">“I’m a gorilla, I’m a gorilla...”</a> 47% of those with ASD were thrown off by this, compared to only 12% of the typical group. So it seems that increased perception has advantages and disadvantages.</p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzOTQzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjAyNjU3NH0.RSL11aXZ4SGRr4_D7yVhgaaQuVb7YOdV4M9R80_erTo/img.jpg?width=980" id="31744" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c23a85c7be7f3d71c2b4dcd09db3db2d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>The disadvantage is seemingly innocuous sounds can be very irritating to those with ASD. Getty Images. </em></p> <p>Originally, we thought that those with autism didn’t like innocuous sounds, merely because they had difficulty filtering them out. Now we know: it’s because they process auditory information differently and such sounds overload their circuits, so to speak.</p> <p>This information might help us develop better strategies to cater to their needs. It can also help children with ASD learn and cope with difficulties better in and out of the classroom. In addition, this discovery could also help experts tailor interventions for those with ASD who find themselves struggling in certain environments or situations. </p> <p>In recent years, we’ve noticed that sensory information is processed differently in those who are autistic. But this isn’t in actuality a disadvantage. In fact, many people with ASD can perform visual or auditory tasks far better than neurotypical people can.</p> <p>To hear a leading emerging theory on what might cause autism, click here: </p> <p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5033d8c85b26f8e99be1c0ed4ba71374"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hczbp0-v4kI?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p>
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The Evidence Is Overwhelming—Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism
Anti-vaxxers may have a friend coming into the White House, and medical experts are worried.
13 January, 2017
A doctor vaccinates a child.
A small but tenacious group of parents and others who are against vaccines may soon enjoy support from the White House, a fact that is causing health experts alarm. Since 2000, a small but tenacious group of parents have refused to vaccinate their children and advocate against it, believing that the contents cause autism. Because of this, cases of measles, whooping cough, and mumps have increased dramatically, illnesses which medical science was thought to have under control, and in the case of measles, nearly wiped out.
<p>Now they’re back with a vengeance, as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-meet-with-proponent-of-debunked-tie-between-vaccines-and-autism/2017/01/10/4a5d03c0-d752-11e6-9f9f-5cdb4b7f8dd7_story.html?utm_term=.815444daa47c" target="_blank" title="The Washington Post ">a 2015 outbreak of measles at Disney World </a>suggests, and anti-vaccinators may be to blame. Not only does the trend hurt individual children, but it weakens herd immunity effect. There will always be those with compromised immune systems and other natural impediments to vaccination. But if everyone around them is vaccinated, they are by default protected. The herd immunity effect weakens however with each child left unvaccinated.</p> <p>Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is a known vaccination skeptic, met with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Kennedy suggested that Trump tapped him to lead <a href="http://hub.jhu.edu/2017/01/11/vaccines-autism-public-health-expert/" target="_blank" title="Johns Hopkins University">a panel on vaccines</a>. Quizzically, just after this meeting, a spokesperson for Trump assured the press that no one had been selected for the position just yet.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Kennedy told reporters he had been offered and accepted the position. In the past, Kennedy has supported an exemption for parents against vaccination, as it’s illegal in most states not to vaccinate your kids. According to Kennedy, mercury additives in vaccines cause autism, and big pharma, the government, and the media have all conspired to keep this from the public. </p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDY5MDQ1M30.x9cheLpeHxNbtUxJAusWH4arQKQCPNGH1IfNaRKFtOE/img.jpg?width=980" id="779b0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="15c4f8822d5815e4debb5fb3dcabe471" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br><em>Robert Kennedy, Jr. talks to reporters outside of Trump Tower in Manhattan.</em></p> <p>Not only have vaccine myths been debunked, backing an anti-vaccine agenda runs counter to the government’s own stance, as well as that of the medical establishment. There already exists a federal advisory committee on immunization. These are medical experts and public health professionals who weigh in on vaccine-related issues from time to time.</p> <p>Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Peter Hotez, told<em> The Washington Post </em>that few could be less qualified than Kennedy for a vaccine commissionership. Hotez also said that there is overwhelming evidence that no link between autism and vaccinations exists. There isn’t “…even any plausibility for a link,” he said. <a href="http://hub.jhu.edu/2017/01/11/vaccines-autism-public-health-expert/" target="_blank" title="Johns Hopkins University">Daniel Salmon</a> is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He's also the deputy director of the school’s Institute for Vaccine Safety.</p> <p>Salmon said that, “Vaccines are very safe and very effective.” They offer a high level of protection. Most are “80-99% effective.” Meanwhile, according to Salmon, negative effects are very rare. Because of this, vaccinating children should be one of the simplest decisions parents make, not only to protect the child but other vulnerable people in society.</p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjU1MDM5NH0.XY-Y8kuhVOOBYVZ8u71csRPS6H4clYifg1gZ-ZdcThw/img.jpg?width=980" id="a1c3d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e144679da6f7508e6ac23480825a154" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br><em>Newborns and small children can get up to 200 vaccines. But the advantages far outweigh the risks.</em></p> <p>In the case of an adverse reaction, the most common side effects are soreness at the injection area, a lack of energy and in some cases, a low-grade fever. In very, very rare cases, a febrile seizure can occur. These may look worrisome, but they do not cause any long-term effects. As for a connection with autism itself, 13 studies of the highest caliber have been conducted. All turned up bupkis. The CDC, Institute of Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, and many other esteemed medical organizations regularly assess such studies. Hotez called the pile of evidence against vaccines causing autism “massive.”</p> <p>Kennedy is hardly the only celebrity anti-vaxxer out there. Count Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey among them. And Trump himself has made statements supporting the movement. During the 2015 Republican Presidential Debate, Trump said he witnessed it himself. “We had so many instances,” he said, “people that work for me, just the other day, two years old, a beautiful child, went to have the vaccine and came back and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic.”</p> <p>Oddly enough, former neurosurgeon and housing and urban development (HUD) nominee, Dr. Benjamin Carson, on that very same stage, noted the overwhelming evidence against vaccines causing autism. So what is the fear, if anti-vaxxers grow in number or are allowed more leeway? It could increase the infection and transmission of diseases such as the flu, pertussis or whooping cough, measles, and many others.</p> <p>To hear what geneticist Michael Wigler thinks of vaccines causing autism, click here: </p> <p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="33711e0ee31d6d6bdb2443e5022253c3"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVBz1-26prg?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p>
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5 brilliant graphs that teach correlation vs. causality
Hilarious examples that prove how correlation does not equal causality.
13 January, 2017
No!!!!! (TYLER VIGEN)
<p class="p1"><em>Big Think</em> has been talking about the dangers in confusing correlation with causality for some time. You know, how the amount of one thing seems to correspond to something else, and can we therefore conclude that the first caused the second, or vice versa? Nope. Make that a double-nope.</p> <p class="p1">We've <a href="http://bigthink.com/robert-montenegro/heavy-metal-as-science-learning-tool" target="_blank">written about a university course</a> that uses heavy metal to keep students from falling into this trap. And even <a href="http://bigthink.com/neurobonkers/the-bad-science-of-satoshi-kanazawa" target="_blank">ended our relationship</a> with blogger Satoshi Kanazawa over this issue.</p> <p class="p1">Sometimes things just look like each other without actually being at all connected. Here's the Nic Cage/drowning data:</p> <p class="p1 shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM1OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjA2ODgxOX0.ACA0C5Z-tNjjU4kXT8Q54CXGJlWh3VEJyVj7cJOUNJs/img.png?width=980" id="37a03" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a9230f029664220150679d71ee704334" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="p1"><span style="color: #737d83; font-size: 13px;">(TYLER VIGEN)</span></p> <p>It's not just an academic matter, either, as the confusion between correlation and causality can lead to dangerously wrong conclusions as it has for the people who <a href="http://bigthink.com/articles/why-vaccines-dont-cause-autism" target="_blank">incorrectly believe vaccines cause autism</a>.</p> <p class="p1">So let's have some fun with this, and enjoy just how idiotic the correspondences between obviously unrelated data sets can be. All of these are from author Tyler Vigen's <a href="http://tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations" target="_blank">awesome collection</a>, including the Nicolas Cage/drowning one above. He also has a book, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316339438&aff=robbyberman" target="_blank"><em>Spurious Connections</em></a>. These are some of our favorites from Vigen's web page.</p> <p class="p1">Here's a graph that "proves" that the more the U.S. spends on space, the more our suicide rate by hanging and other forms of asphyxiation goes up.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDYwMjM4MH0.zYGh2TTwVa7wzDsPXT7LEhlDfiTIriNqtr-OBx802Bk/img.png?width=980" id="6cac2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c381f26b928f95c68a2a932e70e3d0fd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>There are lots of reasons to question the value of the Miss America pageant, but this is new. The winner's age <em>seems</em> to cause murders by heat.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMzY2NjkxNX0.KTDRXxPsAqAmy_9scUP5KPyBErAtha-1f9jFnQ2uQ5U/img.png?width=980" id="434c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4255964d0ea939d325301d30d84238a8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>In what has to be the best endorsement for arcade game-playing, look at how many computer doctorates it "produces."</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2Mi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDI1MjQzNX0.-j9F2wHyJqX481hHOZL9kTUM7sy-hl64HARTpWrj5SY/img.png?width=980" id="6caf3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="406c7c8d236762e0025e1d5b065dc611" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>And finally, for those of us who have always resented those Scripps spelling smartypantses, venomous spiders feel us. And then bite us.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODM2My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjY0NDM0OH0.npK9rD2ng8hQanAxvBXxpqk-tSaa7xjcYcwbiuW56oc/img.png?width=980" id="52849" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2eec297188064389a5336c2c3719bf69" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>Got enough proof now for any argument that's based on ridiculous correspondences? There are more over at Vigen's website, and they're all pretty hilarious.</p>
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