Anti-vaccine activists spark a state’s worst measles outbreak in decades

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/anti-vaccine-activists-spark-a-states-worst-measles-outbreak-in-decades/2017/05/04/a1fac952-2f39-11e7-9dec-764dc781686f_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_hp-in-the-news%3Apage%2Fin-the-news&utm_term=.7886190129e8

by putsteadywere • 9 years ago

7 3 9 years ago

washingtonpost.com

putsteadywere2• 9 years ago

TL;DR

"...a discredited theory spread through the local Somali community, by meetings organized by anti-vaccine groups. The activists repeatedly invited Andrew Wakefield, the founder of the modern anti-vaccine movement...

Anti-vaccine activists defend their position and their role, saying they merely provided information to parents.

“The Somalis had decided themselves that they were particularly concerned,” Wakefield said last week. “I was responding to that.” He maintained that he bears no fault for what is happening within the community. “I don’t feel responsible at all,” he said.

...activists started showing up at community health meetings and distributing pamphlets, recalled Lynn Bahta, a nurse who worked with Somali nurses to counter MMR vaccine resistance within the community. At one 2011 gathering featuring Wakefield, armed guard barred her, other public health officials and reporters from attending."

sctb• 9 years ago

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14280709

putsteadywere2• 9 years ago

thank you!

Anti-vaccine activists spark a state’s worst measles outbreak in decades

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