Comments (5)

1. Matt

   Anti-vaccine folk folk appear to me to be left-wing anti-science nut jobs. But someone who sees right wingers as anti-science might not share that view.

   January 13, 2011 at 9:48 am
2. Chris Mooney

   why’s that? i see both depending on the issue.

   January 13, 2011 at 9:53 am
3. Lilian Nattel

   I wonder if this will help counter the ignorance that seems to have permeated public consciousness as fact.

   January 13, 2011 at 1:57 pm
4. Ian

   I might not get time to read these books, but being the father of four children the subject does interest me. Whilst I’m not anti-vax (whatever that means) I do share some concerns that have been raised by those that would identify (or perhaps are identified as) anti-vax, namely the use of foetal tissue to develop some vaccinations and the HPV vaccine.

   In the first case I am against humanity serving science – science was developed to serve humanity, and as such the destruction of, or use of destroyed life whithout their permission seems unforgivable. Especially when the development of vaccinations do not depend on this course of action.

   On the use of the HPV vaccine, when everything we currently know about HPV indicates it behaves like an STD why are we not promoting a risk avoidance strategy than a costly exercise in getting girls vaccinated. I have not seen any results on research carried out on the spread of HPV amongst girls who have no or one sexual partner – why not? Surely this is the level of scientific enquiry people desire and need to make informed choices.

   I’m, sure my comments will have provoke some negative reaction but I’m with GK Chesterton on this one. When he wrote his conclusion to What’s Wrong With The World he used the image of a girl and the then current treatment for head lice by cutting off all her hair, even though the solution could be found in raising people out of poverty – “That little urchin with the gold-red hair, whom I have just watched toddling past my house, she shall not be lopped and lamed and altered; her hair shall not be cut short like a convict’s; no, all the kingdoms of the earth shall be hacked about and mutilated to suit her. She is the human and sacred image; all around her the social fabric shall sway and split and fall; the pillars of society shall be shaken, and the roofs of ages come rushing down, and not one hair of her head shall be harmed.”

   January 14, 2011 at 8:21 am