Vaccine controversies began almost as soon as vaccines. The original smallpox vaccination involved giving people small doses of the related but harmless cowpox virus. This 1802 engraving caricatured some opponents’ beliefs that the vaccines could cause people to develop cow-like features. Original cartoon by James Gillroy. Public domain image.
In our next episode, out Tuesday, we examine one of the biggest vaccine controversies in recent years.
Reading List:
Measles Cases and Outbreaks – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Herd Immunity”: A Rough Guide, by Paul Fine, Ken Eames, and David L. Heymann – Clinical Infectious Diseases
History of Anti-Vaccination Movements – The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Retracted: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children, by Andrew J. Wakefield – The Lancet
Why autism cases seem to be on the rise, by Jenn Christensen - CNN
New research links autism and bowel disease - The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine
Brian Deer: the Lancet scandal – briandeer.com
Ruling on doctor in MMR scare – National Health Service
Towards a better map: Science, the public and the media, by Ian Hargreaves, Justin Lewis, and Tammy Speers – Economic and Social Research Council
Misleading media reporting? The MMR story, by Justin Lewis and Tammy Speers – Nature Reviews: Immunology
Dr Andrew Jeremy Wakefield: Determination on Serious Professional Misconduct (SPM) and sanction – General Medical Council
A statement by the editors of The Lancet, by Richard Horton – The Lancet
The lessons of MMR, by Richard Horton – The Lancet
The Lancet’s two days to bury bad news, by Brain Deer – The British Medical Journal
Institutional and editorial misconduct in the MMR scare, by Fiona Godlee – British Medical Journal
No academic matter: Study links retractions to patient harm – Retraction Watch
Anti-Vaccine Film, Pulled From Tribeca Film Festival, Draws Crowd at Showing, by Melena Ryzik – The New York Times
Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Surveillance and Reporting – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Music Notes (In order of appearance)
Simon Mathewson – Doline Dub
Bert Williams - You Will Never Need a Doctor No More
Kosta T – SickNik(
David Mumford - Night Without Sleep (Instrumental)
“Doline Dub,” “SickNik(” and “Night Without Sleep (Instrumental)” used under a Creative Commons Attribution International license. “You Will Never Need a Doctor No More” used under public domain.