Editor’s note: This commentary is by Tom Rogers, of Stowe, who is a parent of two children under the age of 3 and works in science communication.
[T]he recent Climate Rally and the March for Science in Montpelier made clear that Vermonters stand with science. We demand evidence and oppose alternative facts. At these rallies, demonstrators advocated for funding for scientific research, action on climate change and support for vaccines.
Thus, the converse, set to take place May 20 in Stowe, is especially troubling. Several of the best known anti-science advocates in the country will be presenting at an all-day summit at the public high school. These speakers will to attempt to erode the public’s confidence in vaccines and undermine the legitimacy of credible doctors and scientists.
The best-known speaker is Andrew Wakefield, who originated the myth that early childhood vaccinations result in autism. Wakefield’s infamous article with this claim was retracted and deemed an elaborate fraud by editors of The Lancet. Ultimately losing his medical license, Wakefield was sanctioned by the British Medical Council for dozens of counts of misconduct, including 12 counts involving the abuse of children.
Wakefield’s vaccine myth has been called the most damaging medical hoax of the past 100 years, yet he continues to find ready audiences for these false claims. This, despite the global medical community having unanimously found no link between vaccines and autism. Where Wakefield speaks, sickness soon follows. In 2011, he lectured to a crowd of predominantly Somali immigrants in Minnesota, causing vaccination rates to plummet among members of that community. Today, these Minnesotans are being ravaged by an outbreak of measles, a disease that remains one of the leading causes of childhood blindness and caused more than 134,000 deaths worldwide last year. Wakefield’s attendance at the event has been cancelled at the last minute without explanation, but he is still planning to speak at the event from a remote location.
While the anti-vaccine speakers would bristle at the comparison with climate change deniers, many similarities exist between the two groups.
While the anti-vaccine speakers would bristle at the comparison with climate change deniers, many similarities exist between the two groups. Just as the overwhelming body of scientific evidence supports the concept of human-induced climate change and vaccine safety, countless “research” articles opposing one or the other regularly appear in non-peer-reviewed fringe journals using shoddy research methods. Ardent climate change deniers and vaccine skeptics both claim that global conspiracies exist to cover up the truth, ignoring results found by massive numbers of scientists and researchers. And the scientific agencies of nearly every government in the world support immunization programs and climate science. Sadly, the Trump administration is the exception on both fronts.
We, as responsible citizens, need to focus on how best to combat climate change, not rehash the debate on whether it is happening. Similarly, we should champion how best to promote widespread public vaccination and not be sidetracked by those who would undermine the long-standing scientific evidence of its safety and effectiveness. Vermonters have a proud tradition of protecting our children with vaccines – our immunization rates are higher than the national average. But, if we let fraudulent ideas take hold in our community, we could soon be facing disease outbreaks similar to those in Minnesota. This could be our next Tropical Storm Irene, with effects just as devastating.
Vermonters need to harness the energy created at the recent rallies to publicly oppose these speakers and call them out for misrepresenting the truth. It’s time to stand with science in all its forms, whether environmental or medical.
