It Could Happen Here Anti-Vax America: Could It Happen Here?
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Jun 20, 2025 David Gorski, a prominent vaccine scientist, discusses the alarming rise of anti-vaccination beliefs in the U.S. He highlights the systematic dismantling of vaccine policies, warning about the potential resurgence of diseases like polio and measles. Gorski dives into the sociopolitical factors driving vaccine hesitancy and its dire implications for public health. He stresses the urgent need for education and awareness to combat misinformation and the risks posed by declining vaccination rates, particularly in conservative areas.
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Vaccine Decline Predicts Outbreaks
- A decline in vaccination rates below 90% triggers outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases like measles first.
- This collapse threatens to dismantle the vaccine ecosystem and could lead to a resurgence of diseases like measles, polio, and pertussis.
Anti-Vax Movement Threatens Vaccine Infrastructure
- RFK Jr. and the Maha movement threaten to dismantle federal vaccine infrastructure and delay new vaccine approvals.
- Public health may degrade significantly, with fewer approved vaccines and proliferation of unproven alternative therapies.
Anti-Vax Movement as a Purity Cult
- Anti-vaxxers portray measles as a benign illness, but historical data show hundreds of deaths yearly before vaccines.
- The anti-vax movement functions like a purity cult, emphasizing 'cleansing' and blaming victims rather than scientific evidence.