

Anti-Vax America: The Complete Series
30 snips Jun 21, 2025
Catherine Wells, Director for Lubbock Public Health, discusses the alarming resurgence of measles linked to declining vaccination rates in Texas. Garrison Davis, a political writer, explores the anti-vax movement's roots and its dangerous impact on public health. Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrician scientist, critiques misinformation surrounding vaccines, while Dr. David Gorski highlights ethical concerns in vaccine hesitancy. Together, they emphasize the need for trust in local health initiatives to combat skepticism and protect community health.
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Measles Outbreak Linked To Politics
- The 2025 West Texas measles outbreak resulted from sharply declining vaccination rates post-COVID and aligned with conservative political areas.
- Influential figures like RFK Jr. have spread vaccine misinformation, worsening the outbreak and hindering public health efforts.
Local Health Response To Measles
- Catherine Wells, Lubbock Public Health director, described the initial discovery and rapid spread of measles cases in West Texas.
- Local health departments struggled with testing logistics and were stretched thin responding while managing other epidemics like COVID and flu.
Misinformation Fuels Vaccine Hesitancy
- Anti-vaccine sentiment in West Texas is driven by misinformation and social media, amplified by a distrust of government and medical systems.
- Despite long-term safety of vaccines, fear tactics and debunked myths, such as vaccines causing autism, continue to fuel hesitancy.