60 Minutes Australia - Getting The Point (Vaccine Debate Story)

They were the original superbugs - mumps, measles, polio and rubella.

Thanks to modern immunisation, we don't see these diseases much any more, and most of us have no first-hand knowledge of how dangerous they can be.

Maybe that's why so many parents are questioning whether vaccination is the right choice for their children.

Once they tap into the bottomless pit of misinformation swirling around the internet, fears are fuelled, minds are made up and they may just say no to the needle.

In our story you'll meet some of the self-appointed experts behind the anti-vaccine campaign, and some grieving parents who couldn't disagree with them more.

Story contacts:

Jay and Roslynd Smith are supporting the Preston James Fund to raise money for a new life support machine.
If you would like to help visit www.prestonjames.com

For more information about immunisation in Australia visit www.ncirs.edu.au

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• vaccine
• debate
• anti
• vaxxer
• stupid
• conspiracy
• theorists
• fake
• doctor
• andrew
• wakefield
• fraud
• measles
• mumps
• rubella
• mercury
• autism
• whooping
• cough
• immunisation
• child
• health
• australia
• 60
• minutes

[MrMathoMagic]

As a medical professional I realise the value of vaccinations, but my daughter nearly died after receiving the whooping cough vaccine at 2 months of age. She was later diagnosed with an autism related disorder. Coincidence? Another girl I know has contracted chronic fatigue syndrome after receiving the HPV vaccine.

The Federal Government will now withhold tax benefits for families who refuse to vaccinate their children. Big Pharma is downplaying risks of vaccinations. We are guinea pigs.

[Oct195]

@MrMathoMagic

Yes, coincidence. Just because one thing (a autism dianosis) comes soon after another thing (vaccination) doesn't mean that you can assume a causal link. Correlation DOES NOT imply causation.

[mkarnerfors]

Oh this is hillarious: the anti-vaccinist readilly throws out accusations against thousands of medical doctors... yet she won't accept the same back. There is a word for it: hypocrisy.

That's not what it meant when she took the Hippocratic Oath...

[Gunner3210]

That old cunt needs to die.

[playadominical]

Every weekday, I make coffee in the morning. 10-20 minutes later, the sun comes up. Coincidence?

[Nunreal69]

@MrMathoMagic But science doesn't care about who paid you or about preconceived conclusions. Science draws its conclusions from the evidence only, whether or not those conclusions are in line with some ulterior objective (such as making money) and history tells us often they don't.

[Richeaux]

After reading the comments, I think the anti vaccination mob is a bit like a fundamentalist religious movement. Big on hand-clasping, earnest claims. Light on reality. Jim Jones by stealth.

[danmanduka]

@Oct195 thats funny because that is the exact thing pro-vaccinesers are saying look at how much polio we had then vaccines came along and look no more polio... well there is hardly any scarlet fewer around either. "Correlation DOES NOT imply causation"

[styrmirr86]

I hate anti vac people. They are worse than drug dealers.

[styrmirr86]

@MrMathoMagic I seriously doubt a medical professional would make such a stupid connection.

[JungleBucketStudios]

The worst part about people who are against vaccines is the irony that the only reason you are alive today is because you were required to be vaccinated for polio, hepatitis, mumps, measles, rubella, smallpox, etc. I am glad that in the majority of states you cannot withhold vaccinating your children based on philosophical objections that are based on misleading information.

- a US medical student

[MrMathoMagic]

@Pyroglyphikz Thanks for your professional opinion. It is just this relevant literature that makes me question the current protocols, maybe you should read it.

[Pyroglyphikz]

i really hate the editing of this show.