The Deadly Anti-Vaxxer Movement: Started in Britain, Co-opted by Trump, Boosted by Putin

[SidDithers]

https://bylinetimes.com/2019/02/14/the-deadly-anti-vaxxer-movement-started-in-britain-co-opted-by-trump-boosted-by-putin/

As Washington State declares a state of emergency over measles, populist misinformation over vaccination is putting children’s lives at risk
The modern anti-vaccination movement can be traced back to a now-retracted fraudulent study published by British doctor Andrew Wakefield in 1998.

The paper, which claimed to show a link between the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine and autism, was quickly refuted, then retracted, and eventually found to be be the product of falsified data.

The incident resulted in Wakefield being stripped of his medical license, as well as his credibility. But, while Wakefield is now considered a pariah in the field of medicine, he has found a kindred spirit in none other than Donald Trump.

Trump has a very public history of espousing anti-vaccination beliefs and promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines and autism. He hasn’t used the White House to push these views, but he has frequently taken to Twitter to spread vaccine-related misinformation.

On more than 20 occasions, Trump has tweeted falsehoods claiming that there is a link between vaccination and autism (there’s not). He has never retracted those false claims, nor addressed them publicly since taking office.

In the summer of 2016, Trump met with Wakefield and other prominent ‘leaders’ of the anti-vaccination movement, and expressed interest in meeting with anti-vaccine activists in the future. Wakefield even got an invitation to Trump’s inaugural ball, which he accepted.

Much more at link.

Sid

[GReedDiamond]

1. KnR...nt

[WhiteTara]

2. Ukraine had 54,000 cases last year and

5069 so far this year.

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/measles-continues-strong-ukraine-2019/


As 2019 begins, it appears the measles problem continues in Ukraine as health officials has already reported 5,059 measles cases from December 28, 2018 to January 11, 2019 and two death.

In total, the highest rates in Lviv (a total of 930 people: 291 adults and 639 children), Vinnytsya (a total of 524 people: 236 adults and 288 children), Rivne (a total of 513 people: 141 adults and 372 children), Chernivtsi (a total of 365 people) : 147 adults and 218 children) and Kyiv (421 people in total: 219 adults and 202 children)

[smirkymonkey]

3. K&R

[OnDoutside]

4. Wakefield is utterly discredited now, in the UK, but not before doing massive damage.