Why do anti-vaccine myths persist?

Despite overwhelming evidence that vaccines don’t cause autism, one in four Americans still think they do.

So we’re all moms (or pregnant, at least) on here, which means we are trying to blog and be all sciency and skeptical, but let’s face it, I’m writing during my son’s nap, and if he wakes up, this article becomes a draft and not a post. For a while now, I’ve been mentally planning an article about my own personal theories on just why so many smart parents I know cannot let go of the so completely debunked connection between vaccines and autism. I just haven’t gotten around to writing said post. But the great thing about these here Internets is that if you just wait long enough, someone else will write your post for you. So today I was poking around on Esther’s Mainstream Parenting Resources, and she linked to a fabulous article on PLoS Biology, by Liza Gross, all about Sharon Kaufman.

So you see, Sharon has got it covered, and Liza covered Sharon, and then Esther covered Liza. At this point, all I have to do is cut and paste and link. Thanks, ladies. If there’s one thing I enjoy more than writing during naps, it’s not having to write during naps.

Sharon Kaufman, a medical anthropologist, became fascinated with the persistence of the public’s mistrust of science:

Struck by how the idea of a vaccine–autism link continued to gain cultural currency even as science dismissed it, Kaufman took a 26-month hiatus from her life’s work on aging and longevity to investigate the forces fueling this growing divide between scientists and citizens. She wanted to understand how parents thought about risk and experts, how these attitudes shaped parents’ decisions about vaccination, and what the vaccine wars might teach us about the long-term erosion of public trust in science.

The article is great reading, but if you don’t have time to get to it, here is Esther’s handy summary from Mainstream Parenting Resources. (Seriously, I did read the whole article, but why work harder than I need to work here? I don’t know how much longer this nap will last, and if I finish this, I might even take a nap myself.)

* Basic distrust of science and scientists. In the era of “Question Authority”, many people feel that acting skeptically towards those perceived to be in authority and questioning their motives is the same thing as self-empowerment. Many don’t apply the same skepticism to the claims of those they perceive to be the underdog, and end up following them as blindly as they accuse medical convention to be following Big Pharma. Thus, the woo-monger fighting against “the system”, the ditzy blonde actress from MTV, and the lady who sounds so sure of herself (and cuts-and-pastes so extensively) on your Internet mommyboard are sources of information equivalent, if not superior, to your pediatrician or the CDC.

*The incapablility of most people (even smart ones!) to distinguish between good and bad scientific information. Most people simply don’t have enough specialized knowledge or do not utilize their critical thinking skills – if they possess them, that is – toward what they read on the Internet. In a world where whoa-whoa-whoa feelings trump information, scientists are perceived as the cold, unfeeling SOBs who dare confront the grieving mother of the vaccine-injured (i.e., autistic) child, over the ignorance she spreads. The fact is that being the mother of an autistic child (or even a genuinely vaccine-injured one) does not give one special insights into what causes autism or what cures it, but her lament is far more appealing to one’s gut than dry facts and statistics.

The article mentions that the posturing of anti-vaxxers as anti-authoritarian freedom fighters is a powerful narrative. This is from Gross:

[Jenny] McCarthy emerged as a hero for some parents by telling her story. Personal stories resonate most with those who see trust in experts as a risk in itself—a possibility whenever people must grapple with science-based decisions that affect them, whether they’re asked to make sacrifices to help curb global warming or vaccinate their kids for public health. Researchers might consider taking a page out of the hero’s handbook by embracing the power of stories—that is, adding a bit of drama—to show that even though scientists can’t say just what causes autism or how to prevent it, the evidence tells us not to blame vaccines.

In addition to giving a great analysis of the cultural resistance to trusting science, Gross’s article gives a history of the vaccine controversy. A turning point seems to have been the AAP and CDC’s policy to remove thimerosol from vaccines, which instead of making the public feel safer, kind of backfired:

Anticipating the FDA’s release of its findings, the AAP issued a statement explaining its decision as an effort to minimize children’s exposure to mercury, asserting that “current levels of thimerosal will not hurt children, but reducing those levels will make safe vaccines even safer.” Unfortunately, Kaufman says, “rather than reassuring parents, the statement fueled public fears and prompted all sorts of questions.”

Take a look. This is a really good article!