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The Panic Virus

a True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear
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Feb 09, 2011paul1 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An excellent book on the supposed controversy on childhood vaccination and autism. I say supposed controversy since numerous credible researchers that Mnookin cites have shown time and time again no connection between vaccination and autism. Mnookin covers all the angles in this book. How autism advocacy groups were hijacked by the shrill and uninformed with an anti-science agenda. No nothing politicians jumping on the anti-vaccine bandwagon for political gain (50 years ago they would have been attacking fluoridation as a communist plot). Particularly infuriating are the vaccuous media celebrities that used their fame to propagandize even though they should have sought out the actual science of vaccine and public health. Oprah and Jenny McCarthy have demonstrated how dangerous the spread of misinformation truly is. He also shows how Dr. Wakefield's MMR "research" was driven by pure financial interest. A point many of his supporters willfully ignored. The book is a cautionary tale on how lies, half truths and ignorance can spread. (Many of the anti-vaccination zealots quite openly state that they used "feeling" instead of using evidence in this issue). Then they can spread their affect far and wide causing harm throughout society.