Results for: National Vaccine Information Center

VAERS database

As 2021 shambles to a close, the misuse of VAERS by antivaxxers continues apace

Misuse of the VAERS database to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt about vaccines has been a favorite technique of antivaxxers for decades. Unfortunately, 2021 was the year when this particular antivax trope was turbocharged, and public health messaging seemed powerless to counter it.

/ December 20, 2021

Loud Silenced Doctors

When the history of this pandemic is written, contrarian doctors divorced from patient care won't be seen as its principal victims because YouTube removed their video, because someone called them "fringe", or because someone put up posters reminding them of words they said.

/ December 19, 2021

Why It’s Worthwhile to Debunk Shivambu

Richard Feynman famously said, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool". This is the most important lesson skepticism has to offer.

/ December 17, 2021
Carl Sagan

John Ioannidis and the Carl Sagan effect in science communication about COVID-19

We have been critical about John Ioannidis over a number of his statements about the COVID-19 pandemic. Now he's done it again, producing a poor-quality paper whose unwritten assumptions suggest that the Carl Sagan effect, in which scientists are penalized professionally by their peers for becoming popular science communicators, still holds considerable sway in science and medicine.

/ December 13, 2021

Incorrect Numbers

Having made them myself, I completely understand that doctors can make errors. However, I can't fathom why some of them don't seem to care about correcting them, especially considering the health of children is at stake.

/ December 3, 2021

Contrarian Doctors: The Pandemic is Over, Again

I can’t help but wonder if one of the reasons the pandemic isn’t over yet, is because contrarian doctors repeatedly said it was.

/ November 19, 2021

Doctors Must be Honest with Parents About Known Risks of COVID-19

Pediatricians know their job is to present accurate and thorough information so parents can make informed decisions. Contrarian doctors who write about COVID-19 should spend less time lecturing pediatricians and more time learning from them.

/ November 13, 2021

Pandemic drives huge surge in herbal remedy sales

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a boom in herbal supplement sales.

/ November 11, 2021

Children, Underlying Conditions, and COVID-19

That we can identify children who have a higher risk for severe outcomes shouldn't be used to minimize the virus and argue against vaccination in healthy children. Rather, we should recognize there are populations of vulnerable children that need extra protection, and the best way to do this is through vaccinating ourselves and all eligible children.

/ November 5, 2021

Lions Led by Donkeys, 1917

Those who sent unprotected children into classrooms filled with COVID-19 must be remembered for more than their unparalleled capacity for self-pity, inglorious oppression fantasies, and juvenile trolling of public officials.

/ September 24, 2021