Common myths about MMR

[InTheEndgameNow]

Hi, hope this is permitted. I'm writing an essay for my uni course on social media and vaccinations. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of any common myths about vaccines that you might have come across.

I've heard the autism one, the one about overloading the immune system, and the various ones about the ingredients etc, but are there any others I could include?

How about the “separates are so much healthier for your child” one?

If they are common myths they would come up when you google?

Hugo Rifkind on The News Quiz a few weeks back gave a brilliant summary:

"Don't need vaccines. Just let them catch it and develop immunity" (That is what vaccination is.)

"Don't need vaccines because no one gets these diseases anymore. (Because they're vaccinated.)

Thanks all.

Yes I have googled it, but the results tend to be for sites that are pro vaccine, which is good, obviously, and focus on things like the autism angle. I was wondering if there are any others.

I have just remembered one actually that I saw the other day, about vaccines containing GMO crops. No idea what the basis of that is, but I guess GMO is another "scary" concept for some to add in the mix.

Vaccines contain unsafe toxins myth -
People have concerns over the use of formaldehyde, mercury or aluminum in vaccines. It’s true that these chemicals are toxic to the human body in certain levels, but only trace amounts of these chemicals are used in FDA approved vaccines. In fact, according to the FDA and the CDC, formaldehyde is produced at higher rates by our own metabolic systems and there is no scientific evidence that the low levels of this chemical, mercury or aluminum in vaccines can be harmful.

Vaccines can infect my child with the disease it’s trying to prevent myth -

Vaccines can cause mild symptoms resembling those of the disease they are protecting against. A common misconception is that these symptoms signal infection. In fact, in the small percentage (less than 1 in one million cases) where symptoms do occur, the vaccine recipients are experiencing a body’s immune response to the vaccine, not the disease itself. There is only one recorded instance in which a vaccine was shown to cause disease. This was the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) which is no longer used in the U.S.

Religious fundamentalists in say Nigeria - what justifications do they give for refusing vaccination?

Thanks all, this gives me something to go on.

Interesting point about religion, that is certainly something I could look into.

I have heard that in some countries, vaccines are a plot to damage / kill off their children ie a sort of racist imperialist prerogative

And in some fundamental religious communities eg look at recent measles outbreak amongst v religious Jewish communities in New York and I think we have had similar in London with various separatist communities we have here (eg we have local brethren who live separately, don't know if they vaccinate).

Also, there was (discredited) theory early on with Aids in Africa that it was linked to vaccines that had been cultured on monkey tissues.

I have heard that in some countries, vaccines are a plot to damage / kill off their children ie a sort of racist imperialist prerogative

Sadly with scandals like the baby formula in Africa, it is hardly surprising people believe this

And the Bin Laden hit which was facilitated by getting a DNA sample with a fake vaccination programme. The "CIA Plot to turn our kids into prostitutes" feeds on that.

There's also the one about it being made from aborted foetuses. Oh and that kids don't need the rubella vaccine only pregnant women.

Population control is another that comes to mind.

That if you've had the MMR you'll never get measles, mumps or rubella.

One of the more batshit ones I've read on here is that we don't need vaccines because germs don't exist.

Shedding

Polio didn’t get erased due to myths that the vaccine would sterilise children - I believe this was Pakistan and to do with anti American sentiment.

Do remember there is a continuum of those who don't 'believe' in them - for some, specifically Jehovah's witnesses, eschew all medicine. Which I think is barking, but which does have a logic. Other don't 'believe' in vaccines, but happily use other medicines (which have side effects, preservatives etc). It might be worth looking in to the abolition of the 'conscience clause' in Australia (a means to get an exemption certificate, once upon a time) for more information on that aspect.

Yes PopcornZoo!

The mumps element especially is not effective long term, and even doctors don't seem to know this