Anti-vaccine folks are always interested in having debates about vaccines.
Why?
It helps create the impression that all views about vaccines are equally valid – the facts and science of those who support vaccines and the misinformation and pseudoscience of the anti-vaccine movement.
Of course, they aren’t.
There is no longer a debate. Vaccines are safe, effective, and necessary. Anti-vaccine points have been refuted time and again.
What Is the One Conversation Vaccine Event?
But that’s what the One Conversation Vaccine Event in Atlanta was supposed to be.
And instead of a debate, as organizers Shannon Kroner and Britney Valas originally planned, their “esteemed panel” consists of a who’s who of the modern anti-vaccine movement:
- Bob Sears
- Christopher Shaw – Science Advisory Board Member – CMSRI
- Toni Bark
- David Lewis – Research Director & Science Advisory Board Member – Focus for Health Foundation
- Sherri Tenpenny
- James Lyons-Weiler
- Gayle DeLong
- Del Bigtree
Where’s RFK, Jr and Wakefield? And Kelly Brogan?
But Shelly Wynter, the prominent FM Radio Talk Show Host who is moderating the One Conversation Event will make sure that things don’t end up leaning to any one side, right?
“Next up were Bro. Tony Muhammad and his friends who are helping to get the word out about vaccines. The point being made by the anti-vaccine advocates is the message that the vaccines are poison. Not one of them was making the argument that vaccines are not necessary; but that the CDC and its government masters are poisoning the vaccines. History tells us that this should not be thrown out so easily as a conspiracy theory. It must be investigated more and we should not be so quick to believe the “Government” over credible doctors who have blown the whistle.”
Shelly Wynter
I wouldn’t bet on it…
What about the organizers?
Can’t be any bias against vaccines for Shannon Kroner or Britney Valas, right?
Integrity? Neutrality? Sure…
Even the idea that funding from individual donations couldn’t bias the event is suspect.
“To maintain the integrity and neutrality of One Conversation, the One Conversation organizers purposely chose to not publicly fund raise nor tie the event to a specific organization or special interest group. Funding for One Conversation is provided by ticket sales and individual donations of which are heavily contributed personally by Dr. Kroner and Ms. Valas.”
Individual donations from whom?
Big donations from just a few individuals, like Claire Dwoskin of the CMSRI and Barry Segal of Focus for Health, would likely help fund a big event like this, but certainly wouldn’t do much to help maintain its integrity or neutrality.
So what can you expect from the One Conversation Vaccine Event?
Pay just $115, and you can find out.
In addition to “learning” about Public Health and Immunity from folks who have said that vaccines are full of toxins, you will get dinner and 2 drinks.
Or skip dinner and pay just $15 for the event.
“One Conversation” provides the platform for questions to be addressed among an esteemed panel of participants who specialize in a spectrum of specific focuses and expertise.
Will you get a real conversation about vaccines?
It’s doubtful.
“One Point of View” might have been a better name for the event…
More on the One Conversation Anti-Vaccine Event
- Shannon Kroner invited me to a panel discussion on vaccines. Don’t fall for a trap like this.
- One Conversation: Three legitimate medical authorities ensnared in the trap of appearing on a panel with antivaxers
- The One Conversation public debate/ discussion devolves into an antivaccine crankfest
- Vaccines Won’t Cause Autism, But This Email Just Might
- Dr. Shannon Kroner Children’s March For Humanity June 17, 2017 D.C.
- Minister Louis Farrakhan: “All Politics are Local and Our Black elected officials are Corrupt” A Commentary: by Shelley Wynter
- Avoiding False Balance: Vaccines in the Media
- Vaccines: a case study of false balance on TV
- Balance Fallacy
- The danger of fair and balanced
- False balance – cultivating counterfeit controversy to create confusion
- Science deniers use false equivalence to create fake debates
- About Vaccine Conversations with Parents
- Boosting Vaccination Rates, One Conversation At A Time
- Let’s Have a Conversation
There is certainly a debate online, but there is no serious scientific debate about the general fact, even though there are specific debates about the use of specific vaccines – when and for whom.
But as you point out, a televised debate would misrepresent that, and certainly is not a way to add to or improve the scientific examination. It would only mislead people into thinking the people rejecting the science have a valid perspective, and they do not.