The Vaccine War

The Vaccine War

2010, Health  -   19 Comments
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Ratings: 5.57/10 from 49 users.

Sixteen diseases are now preventable thanks to one of the marvels of modern medicine - vaccinations. But a conflict is steadily brewing between the medical community, concerned parents and other anti-vaccination activists. Do the potential harms outweigh the benefits? The PBS Frontline documentary series examines this controversial and contentious issue with The Vaccine War.

While vaccines have been credited with the eradication of smallpox, polio and other once calamitous diseases, a growing number of parents are refusing them altogether. The number of required pediatric vaccinations has grown over the years, and this community of dissenters questions whether they do more harm than good.

The film speaks with representatives from all sides of the issue. A mother of four bemoans the fact that her oldest child was almost administered a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease as an infant. She has since refused vaccinations for the remainder of her children. This parent, and others like her, believes that some childhood illnesses are a necessary rite of passage.

Another parent wholeheartedly embraces the gift of vaccination. In her view, a failure to administer these vaccines is tantamount to neglect. "It's an outbreak waiting to happen," she claims. One unvaccinated child could put countless others at risk. In recent years, this type of scenario has been seen in some regions with the spreading of measles.

Then there are the members of the medical community who are desperate to stop the spread of disinformation. For them, the necessity of vaccines is apparent as is any tool that helps prevent hospitalization, suffering and untimely death.

The filmmakers also spotlight the insights of researchers and other vocal critics who believe these vaccines - especially when administered in combination - could overwhelm a child's immune system. In their view, this could result in autism and other cognitive impairments. Epidemiologists refute this claim.

The film's diverse panel of interview subjects also discusses the ingredients of popular vaccinations, the erosion of trust among patients and physicians, and weighing the decision made for one child against the benefit of the entire pediatric population.

The Vaccine War is a clear-headed examination of a high-stakes issue.

Directed by: Jon Palfreman

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Richard Leblanc
Richard Leblanc
1 year ago

Human beings have an immune system. Vaccines are only required if the patient is compromised by advanced age or other illness. Babies share the mothers immune response for the first few months. After that it is not necessary to give them all three measles, mumps rubella at the same time. You can spread it out 6 months apart and that would illuminate most of the risk. Do the research before treating a much loved one.

Iran VS ISIS and USA
Iran VS ISIS and USA
3 years ago

hi.i'm from iran
the use of vaccines for children is not bad at all,only these vaccines should be obtained from reputable and better companies...
parents should be careful about which pharmaceutical company produces the vaccine

and about the corona virus in iran, in the last 24 hours, 81people died of Quid 19
it has been a few weeks since Iran started vaccinating the corona virus for the people and almost more than 8 corona vaccines are being produced by Iranian companies,and Iran is also importing corona vaccines from russia and china too.

Rachel Marchant
Rachel Marchant
3 years ago

They are missing the point. Why are parents against vaccination? Because there are real side effects that can occur. I believe it's a parent's choice to either risk "chicken pox" or risk "autism". Even if autism is a rare side effect of vaccination, until the medical community is honest about the risks and develops supports for families of children who develop autism..., well we know that isn't going to happen anyways. Autism is linked to vaccinations. I'm not saying every case of autism is but as a parent, you know your child and if there is a drastic change in development and behaviour after a medication, come on we know It's no coincidence.

Devil Travels
Devil Travels
4 years ago

The science behind vaccines is well proven, yet far too many people with no medical training continue to believe the pop culture memes of con artists looking to sell their book.

Sara
Sara
4 years ago

outbreak waiting to happen? disease? in my childhood it was called a normal illness, no one died in my town, I never heard of anyone dying from measles until vaccines made MEGA profits. I am so grateful there was no measles vaccine when I was young. Having measles, mumps and chickenpox when i was young was no big deal.

Ruth
Ruth
4 years ago

Stop being silly and think of babies who can get these and die from it. Why is that not your problem

Sarah Lawry
Sarah Lawry
4 years ago

Quote from Paul Offit: "You can never really say that MMR doesn't cause autism but frankly when you get in front of the media you better get used to saying it because otherwise people hear a door being left open when a door shouldn't be left open".

This is the man who designed the RotaTeq vaccine. It was found not to work for children who were being breastfed. Their proposed solution? Stop breastfeeding your child. Do not trust your and your children's health with such people. They know how corrupt the system is and benefit from it to the tune of millions of dollars. The dead and injured do not figure in their calculations.

Sarah Lawry
Sarah Lawry
4 years ago

My comment including a link to a You Tube clip of Paul Offit admitting that vaccines cause autism has not been published by Top Documentary. In case it is because I posted the link, people could put "Paul Offit Accidentally Speaks The Truth About MMR and Autism" into the You Tube search facility and view the 10 second clip for themselves.

hank
hank
4 years ago

Super documentary.....I was unaware that the controversy was still ongoing?!!!
[reminds me of "climate change"] And, I am unquestionably in favor of vaccines. A little understanding of science, and what the medical literature authenticates would be the ideal.

CLD
CLD
4 years ago

I love how the pro-vaccine side never admits there have been absolutely ZERO safety studies done on vaccines.

GunnarInLA
GunnarInLA
4 years ago

...Frontline..?
...not anymore...

lulie
lulie
4 years ago

Horse pukee...fake science for the masses. Sadly it keeps people fooled as babies die fro 72 !! Yes 72 useless vaccines. Just start looking at Eugenics, the population agenda is to kill many people.