A Easy Problem
A earlier article of mine, A Easy Problem For Drs. Vinay Prasad and Tracy Hoeg: Denounce Robert Kennedy Jr. For Selling The Film Vaxxed 3: Approved to Kill, issued a quite simple problem to 2 docs. RFK Jr. has unfold rank anti-vaccine disinformation for many years, and he desires to do to the U.S. what he did in Samoa. Simply because he encourages wholesome consuming and train doesn’t imply RFK Jr. innocent. He’s very harmful and he must be handled that approach.
Docs who sanewashed his disinformation aren’t simply enjoying with fireplace, they’re knowingly fanning the flames, and they’re doing so at a harmful second. In line with the article Trump Selects Dave Weldon, Former Congressman With Ties to Vaccine Critics, to Lead CDC:
Weldon has a historical past of backing controversial and, within the views of most scientists, discredited concepts that linked childhood vaccines with growing charges of autism. Del Bigtree, a outstanding anti-vaccine activist who labored on RFK Jr.’s marketing campaign, applauded the choice of Weldon on X.
One other article learn RFK Jr. Hires Prime Anti-Vaccine Activist As Marketing campaign Communications Director. This text, a few harmful and threatening anti-vaxx star, Del Bigtree mentioned:
Asserting his new function, Bigtree launched a letter rife with misinformation alleging that the Covid vaccines have been accountable for widespread damage and demise. Bigtree referred to as for his supporters to “cease the globalist’s New World Order” and unite throughout the political spectrum beneath the banner of “medical freedom.” Bigtree additionally solicited $1,000 donations from supporters to affix a “well being suppose tank,” funds that he mentioned would go towards creating tv advertisements.
Anti-vaxxers are successful, whereas science and youngsters’s well being are shedding. The information headlines learn Childhood Vaccination Charges Proceed to Decline as Trump Heads for a Second Time period and Whooping Cough Circumstances Have Quintupled. These States Have it Worst. This isn’t a sport. All of it has the potential to get a lot worse.
It shouldn’t be arduous for “pro-vaccine” docs to denounce RFK Jr., and I might have a tough time respecting any physician who couldn’t cross this straightforward problem. Any physician who’s unable to sentence RFK Jr. ought to severely mirror on the alternatives that led to their present state of affairs. Drs. Prasad and Hoeg haven’t denounced RFK Jr. for selling motion pictures comparable to Vaxxed 3: Approved to Kill and Plandemic. In truth, Drs. Prasad and Hoeg have repeatedly praised him. They instructed the world that RFK Jr. was clever and reliable and highly effective folks believed them.
Unabashedly Professional-Vaccine
I’m curious if their collaborator at Smart Medication, a monetized Substack, Dr. Adam Cifu can cross my easy problem. Can he denounce Vaxxed 3: Approved to Kill? Dr. Cifu as soon as described himself “unabashedly pro-vaccine.” If that is really the case, he ought to have no downside condemning RFK Jr. not only for exhibiting Vaxxed 3: Approved to Kill, but in addition for what he’s already accomplished in the actual world. Sadly, it most likely wouldn’t do a lot good at this level. The time to talk out was yesterday. Docs’ silence on the danger of RFK Jr. despatched a message that he’s not dangerous in any respect. And right here we’re.
If Dr. Cifu passes my easy problem and condemns RFK Jr. for all this, maybe he may clarify why he continues to affiliate Smart Medication. It appears to me that any physician who’s unabashedly pro-vaccine would recoil at making the most of a weblog that instructed the world that RFK Jr. was nothing to fret about and somebody to love. The person’s obtained a physique rely.
Dr. Cifu warned us of “motivating biases” in his essay The Case for Being a Medical Conservative, and I believe that’s was clever recommendation. We don’t have paying prospects to please right here at Science Based mostly Medication, and I’m unabashedly pro-vaccine. As such, I’m free to say apparent issues.
Docs who downplayed RFK Jr.’s enabled his harmful disinformation. They personal the whole lot that he does for the following 4 years. Any physician who normalized RFK Jr. in any approach is anti-vaccine regardless of how they describe themselves.
