The Editorial Boards of the leading newspapers in the United States are making sure we know their views about vaccines and vaccine hesitancy.
It started with The New York Times, but certainly didn’t end there.
Vaccine Op-Eds
In addition to two hearings before Congress, many other major newspapers have published vaccine editorials of their own.
“It’s no mystery how we got here. On the internet, anti-vaccine propaganda has outpaced pro-vaccine public health information. The anti-vaxxers, as they are colloquially known, have hundreds of websites promoting their message, a roster of tech- and media-savvy influencers and an aggressive political arm that includes at least a dozen political action committees. Defense against this onslaught has been meager. The C.D.C., the nation’s leading public health agency, has a website with accurate information, but no loud public voice. The United States Surgeon General’s office has been mum. So has the White House — and not just under the current administration. That leaves just a handful of academics who get bombarded with vitriol, including outright threats, every time they try to counter pseudoscience with fact.”
The New York Times on How to Inoculate Against Anti-Vaxxers
“The wretched pox is getting closer. We hope you and yours are vaccinated.”
Chicago Tribune on Major new study adds to our plea: Vaccinate your children against measles
“But a child with fragile health, whose doctor advises to delay vaccines for health reasons, could be in extreme danger in Washington state because so many parents use philosophical exemptions. Vulnerable children are much more likely to be exposed to measles than they should be because Washington allows parents to skip required immunizations based solely on their personal beliefs.”
The Seattle Times on End philosophical vaccine exemption
“We can get kids vaccinated, or we can be in danger together.”
Chicago Sun-Times on Measles, anti-vaccine myths and some advice for Illinois
“Treating a disease like measles and stopping its spread is an expensive proposition. Not to mention, it endangers those who can’t get vaccinated, including vulnerable newborns.”
The Baltimore Sun on It’s about time for a backlash against anti-vaxers
“Recent outbreaks underscore the risks of allowing nonmedical exemptions.”
USA Today on Measles outbreaks underscore risks of allowing nonmedical vaccination exemptions
“The point is, people who do not get vaccinated are threatening the whole population, and DeFoor’s letter is a reminder that failing to get vaccinated can have lifelong consequences.”
The Gainesville Sun on Anti-vaccine myths are dangerous
“The best solution, however, is for parents who are tempted to claim a religious exemption to look at the facts. If your fear of vaccines is based on information repeated in social media or by an anti-vaccine group, you need to try again. Look at medical studies or talk to your doctor.
The measles vaccine can save your child’s life, and it can save the lives of those who are medically unable to take the vaccine.”
Tuscaloosa News on Measles vaccine a must for your child and others
“This isn’t one of those scary epidemics in which the cause and solution are unclear. The cause is a reckless embrace of myth over scientific fact. The solution is vaccination.”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Measles is back, thanks to misinformation and loopholes in vaccination rules.
“Yet the distrust of anti-vaxxer parents is a threat to everyone’s children and not just their own.”
The Guardian view on vaccination: a duty of public health
“The anti-vaxxers’ hypothesis rests largely on the shoulders of bunk science that has been discredited and disproven by a number of sources. But this hasn’t stopped their ideas from taking hold.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Preventable problems: Anti-vaxxers rely on bunk science
“We identify with parents’ desire to protect their children. But shunning proven vaccinations is making families and communities less healthy, not more so. We urge lawmakers to champion educational efforts to help parents understand that lesson before a major outbreak strikes here.”
Austin American Statesman on Austin’s anti-vaccination rate is nothing to brag about
After reading these Op-Eds, it is even more amazing to realize how far we have come from when the media used to be part of the problem.
Whatever you think about Andrew Wakefield, the real villains of the MMR scandal are the media.”
Ben Goldacre on The MMR story that wasn’t
It’s nice that they are advocating for vaccines and our children now.
More on Vaccine Op-Eds
- VAXOPEDIA – Vaccine Scare Stories and the Media
- VAXOPEDIA – False Balance about Vaccines
- VAXOPEDIA – Recommendations for Reporting About Vaccines
- VAXOPEDIA – Recommendations for Reporting on Measles Outbreaks
- VAXOPEDIA – The Sharyl Attkisson Journalism Award
- VAXOPEDIA – How To Counter Vaccine Hesitancy
- VAXOPEDIA – How to Become a Vaccine Advocate
- VAXOPEDIA – Where Are All of the Vaccine Advocates?
- How to Inoculate Against Anti-Vaxxers
- Measles surges again as it finds a weak spot: Anti-vax parents
- Major new study adds to our plea: Vaccinate your children against measles
- End philosophical vaccine exemption
- Measles, anti-vaccine myths and some advice for Illinois
- It’s about time for a backlash against anti-vaxers
- Measles outbreaks underscore risks of allowing nonmedical vaccination exemptions
- Anti-vaccine myths are dangerous
- Measles vaccine a must for your child and others
- Measles is back, thanks to misinformation and loopholes in vaccination rules.
- The Guardian view on vaccination: a duty of public health
- Gazette opinion: Keep measles out of Montana
- Editorial: Vaccines fears are going viral
- It’s time to get tougher on anti-vaxxers
- We’ve become dangerously complacent about vaccines
- Preventable problems: Anti-vaxxers rely on bunk science
- Editorial: Austin’s anti-vaccination rate is nothing to brag about
- In Our View: Education crucial to battling vaccine fears
- Editorial: You can’t prevent snow; you can prevent measles
- If only there was a vaccine against irresponsible legislating
- Didn’t We Already Beat Measles?
- Measles outbreak another grim reminder we need to trust science
- Editorial: The facts speak for themselves: get vaccinated
- The media’s MMR hoax
- The MMR story that wasn’t
Last Updated on March 8, 2019