Calling anti-vaccination hysteria “Left-wing creationism,” that is. *I have yet to have it explained to me why I should worry more about my kid being around another kid whose parents believe that the universe was created six thousand years ago than I should be worried about my kid being around another kid whose parents believe that the MMR is the tool of Satan. Creationism doesn’t cause encephalitis, meningitis, and/or deafness; mumps can.
Anyway, The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear is not the Book of the Week. While I will pick books that I have not yet read, I try to pick ones that I’m pretty sure that I will read, once they come out; and this particular book is probably superfluous to my needs. I’m already quite aware that there’s an unscientific fringe group out there pushing a false link between autism and vaccinations; and that said group is putting my kids at risk with their nonsense; and that the typical believer is, ah, generally not on my side of the political spectrum. You may still want to check out the book anyway.
Moe Lane
While I don’t think there is a link between autism and vaccinations, I do question how much we understand about the process. Government run studies showing how safe vaccines are don’t invoke confidence. The Gulf War Syndrome debacle seemed to be swept under the carpet (“It wasn’t the vaccines! It wasn’t the vaccines! Uhh, wait, never mind.”)
I listened to someone who worked at the WHO. Pretty scary stuff regarding vaccines world-wide.