Throughline The Anti-Vaccine Movement
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Sep 25, 2025 
Join Paul Offit, a leading vaccine expert from the Vaccine Education Center, and historian Elena Conis as they delve into the roots of the anti-vaccine movement. They discuss pivotal moments like the botched polio vaccine and the origins of vaccine skepticism. Hear about the infamous Wakefield study, the media's role in public perception, and how celebrity influence has shaped vaccine debates. They also explore the consequences of declining vaccination rates and the erosion of public trust in health authorities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Congressional Showdown Over Vaccines
- Andrew Wakefield testified before Congress in 2000 claiming vaccines cause autism, despite his paper being debunked earlier.
- Paul Offit, seated beside him, told the committee there was no evidence linking vaccines to autism.
How The Cutter Incident Shaped Trust
- The 1955 Cutter Incident showed vaccines can harm when production fails and erode public trust.
- Federal oversight and transparency afterward restored confidence and enabled high polio uptake.
Vaccine Roulette Sparks Parental Movement
- The 1982 NBC broadcast Vaccine Roulette amplified parents' fears about the DPT vaccine's rare adverse events.
- Parents formed Dissatisfied Parents Together and pushed for legal and policy changes.
