Tag: misinformation

Are Reported Pertussis Cases up by 114% Since 1967?

We know that we are seeing more pertussis cases these days.

Although the last few years have been better, 2012 was an especially bad year, with at least 48,277 cases and tragically, at least 4 deaths.

Are Reported Pertussis Cases up by 114% Since 1967?

How does that compare to the the pre-vaccine era?

Cases are still well below what they were in the pre-vaccine era, before we were routinely using DPT and DTaP vaccines.

Reported cases of pertussis are still down from the prevaccine era and there are far fewer deaths, from 37 deaths in 1967 to 6 in 2015.
Reported cases of pertussis are still down from the prevaccine era and there are far fewer deaths, from 37 deaths in 1967 to 6 in 2015.

What about the idea that pertussis cases are up 114% since 1967?

While that may be true, the first thing you should ask yourself when looking at Lauren Novelli’s little graph, is why did she choose 1967?

Reported Pertussis Cases Are Down Since the Pre-Vaccine Era

We did start using a new vaccine in 1967, but it was the measles vaccine, not the DPT vaccine. Vaccines against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus had been available for some time and were used more routinely beginning in the 1950s.

And that explains the drop in pertussis cases from just over 120,000 in 1950 to about 40,000 in 1959.

More importantly, even as pertussis cases are increasing again, we aren’t seeing as many people dying from pertussis.

In 2018, there were 13,439 reported pertussis cases and 10 deaths.
In 2018, there were 13,439 reported pertussis cases and 10 deaths.

Is that because of better hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition?

No.

We had those in most of the United States in the 1950s and 60s. The big change is that even though the current pertussis vaccine might not be perfect, having issues with waning immunity, it can still protect you from severe disease.

Vaccinating against pertussis is far from useless and there is absolutely no evidence of dormant bacteria carriers being triggered into becoming active infections.

This is pure propaganda, but you should expect no less from someone who describes themselves as an intuitive nurse and sells CBD oil.

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About Those Binders of Anti-Vaccine Misinformation

Anti-vaccine folks don’t have to just turn to Facebook or the Sears Vaccine Book anymore – they are preparing their own binders of anti-vaccine misinformation.

There are a few versions of these binders of anti-vaccine misinformation going around.
There are a few versions of these binders of anti-vaccine misinformation going around.

How does that work?

Binders of Anti-Vaccine Misinformation

Apparently, they just collect and print all of the anti-vaccine articles from their typical copypasta arguments and load them all up into binders.

Including copyrighted material in your binders might make you want to stop selling them too...
Including copyrighted material in your binders might make you want to stop selling them too…

Here is one the entries from Ashley Everly‘s binder, from the section on “asymptomatic transmission and shedding:”

The rash started two days after his fever, too short a time for measles, and there wasn't even any documentation of prolonged fever.
The rash started two days after his fever, too short a time for measles, and there wasn’t even any documentation of prolonged fever.

Does it provide evidence for asymptomatic transmission or shedding of measles?

Nope.

The child had a rash after having his measles vaccine and had the flu. He likely didn’t have measles. Not even vaccine-associated measles.

Anyway, as is typical for these binders, they only use one example that might reinforce their argument, but leave out all of the ones that don’t.

“In the end we are left with a powerful sense of knowledge – false knowledge. Confirmation bias leads to a high level of confidence, we feel we are right in our gut. And when confronted with someone saying we are wrong, or promoting an alternate view, some people become hostile.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is not just a curiosity of psychology, it touches on a critical aspect of the default mode of human thought, and a major flaw in our thinking. It also applies to everyone – we are all at various places on that curve with respect to different areas of knowledge. You may be an expert in some things, and competent in others, but will also be toward the bottom of the curve in some areas of knowledge.”

Steven Novella on Lessons from Dunning-Kruger

These binders are just like their Facebook groups – echo chambers of anti-vaccine misinformation.

They won’t help you do research about vaccines and they certainly won’t help you win any debates or arguments with someone who truly knows something about vaccines.

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Was the Measles Outbreak in Michigan Caused by Vaccine-Strain Measles?

Anti-vaccine folks are pushing some new misinformation about measles outbreaks.

Was the Measles Outbreak in Michigan Caused by Vaccine-Strain Measles?

What is it this time?

The Michigan measles outbreak was not caused by a vaccine strain of measles.
The Michigan measles outbreak was not caused by a vaccine strain of measles.

Vaccine-strain measles?

Causing an outbreak?!?

Since a vaccine-strain has never triggered an outbreak before, you would think these folks would be a little more skeptical about this “news.”

So what’s the real story?

“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reducing the statewide count of measles for 2019 to 39 following further testing of two of the cases.”

State measles cases reduced to 39 following additional testing

So there is a hint of truth to their new rumor…

“One child in Washtenaw County had been potentially exposed to measles and that child, along with an Oakland County child, had both been recently vaccinated. Their symptoms and initial test results classified them as measles cases. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol, additional genotype testing was conducted and determined they were not measles cases. “

State measles cases reduced to 39 following additional testing

On further testing though, they didn’t have wild strain measles. They had a vaccine strain – because they had recently been vaccinated.

These two kids likely had a fever and rash and because they had recently been exposed to measles, it was initially assumed that they had measles. That was likely a safe bet in the middle of a large measles outbreak.

But as often seems to happen, anti-vaccine folks get confused by vaccine reactions and vaccine associated measles.

So they didn’t have measles induced by the vaccine. They had a simple vaccine reaction, with a fever and rash.

What’s the difference? All of the other symptoms of measles!

The Southeast Michigan outbreak, which included 44 cases, began in mid-March.
The Southeast Michigan outbreak, which included 44 cases, began in mid-March.

As ridiculous as it is to have to say this, the Michigan measles outbreak was not canceled. And like other outbreaks, the Michigan measles outbreak was not caused by a vaccine or shedding.

More on the Michigan Measles Outbreak

Why Is Lying About Vaccines Not Criminal?

We are in the middle of the largest measles outbreaks in over 25 years.

Measles cases and deaths are on the rise all over the world.

Much of that rise, especially in the developed world, is because parents believe the misinformation that the vocal anti-vax folks are pushing.

Why Is Lying About Vaccines Not Criminal?

Which has to make you wonder – why is lying about vaccines and scarring parents into skipping or delaying vaccines not criminal?

A sociopath wrote this... Is that the one true statement in Kennedy's rant?
A sociopath wrote this… Is that the one true statement in Kennedy’s rant?

For example, take the above Instagram post by Robert F Kennedy, Jr.

His claim that the “guidelines stipulate that a child would need to experience anaphylactic shock — a life threatening reaction — to EVERY vaccine-requiring eight near death experiences — to qualify for an exemption” simply isn’t true.

A severe allergic reaction is a contraindication to getting vaccinated.

If a child had a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, to a previous dose of any vaccine or to a vaccine component, then they would get an medical exemption to that vaccine. They could also easily get a medical exemption to all other vaccines that used those same components, such as gelatin, eggs, or yeast, etc.

It is silly to think that you would have to have an anaphylactic reaction to each and every vaccine, as Kennedy claims, to get a medical exemption to getting vaccinated.

Did the CDC publish new guidelines in 2019 changing what is considered to be a contraindication, another Kennedy claim?

Mild to moderate local reactions and low-grade or moderate fever were removed as a condition commonly mispercieved as a contraindication or precaution, but that was done last January. There were no big changes recently!
Mild to moderate local reactions and low-grade or moderate fever were removed as a condition commonly mispercieved as a contraindication or precaution, but that was done last January. There were no big changes recently!

Nope.

And the thing is, these things are incorrectly perceived as contraindications or precautions to vaccination because they are not a problem with vaccination!

You would have to be a sociopath to put kids at risk for a vaccine-preventable disease for no good reason!

For example, why skip the HPV vaccine just because a child is already infection with HPV? Are they infected with all of the strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against? There is no extra risk of cervical cancer from the vaccine if you are already infected, just the fact that you might get cervical cancer because you were already infected before you got protected from the vaccine!

Why is it not homicide to scare someone away from getting vaccinated and protected with a vaccine that prevents cancer by spreading this type of misinformation?

Why is lying about vaccines not criminal?

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