Time To Say Goodbye What Can RFK Actually Do and the History of Anti-Vaccine Movements with Jonathan Berman
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Sep 3, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Jonathan M Berman, an assistant professor and author of 'Anti-Vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement', dives into the intricate history of anti-vaccine movements. He reveals how political polarization and personal freedom narratives have shaped vaccine skepticism over time. The conversation also highlights the implications of recent public figures' rhetoric on vaccination policies, the media's role in public perception, and the fragile relationship between scientific truth and journalism amidst societal pressures.
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Origins Of Vaccine Opposition
- Early vaccination provoked immediate social fear when people scratched cowpox into family with a knitting needle.
- Jonathan M Berman explains the origin story as a practical farmer experiment that looked crazy then but worked.
Who Historically Resisted Vaccines
- Vaccine skepticism demographics shift by era; historically skewed female and middle-class.
- Berman notes educated parents often lead resistance because they make health decisions and can question experts.
Polarization Rebranded Anti‑Vax Arguments
- Political polarization transformed anti-vaccine messaging to appeal to conservatives.
- Berman argues existing anti-vax coalitions reframed their arguments around freedoms and disgust to gain traction.
