A recent study of 480 anti-vaccination websites found that most of the sites show unscientific views about vaccinations that use pseudoscience and misinformation to spread the idea that vaccines are dangerous. 2/3rd of the anti-vaccination websites studies claimed that vaccines cause autism but multiple studies have shown there is no link between autism and vaccines. About 2/3rds of the websites used anecdotes and not scientific evidence to support their claims. About two-thirds of the websites used information that they represented as scientific evidence, but in fact was not, to support their claims that vaccines are dangerous, and about one-third used people’s anecdotes to reinforce those claims, the scientists found. Near 1/3 of the 480 websites used scientific studies but then misinterpreted the findings, meaning that they just didn’t get the “science” right.
About the Study
- 480 websites, blogs, and facebook pages with content about childhood vaccines
- Found the sites using search terms like “immunization dangers” and “vaccine danger”
- Researchers examined the content for
- Vaccine misinformation
- Sources of the misinformation
- Types of persuasive tactics to convince people that vaccines are dangerous
- Presented American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting in Chicago on Nov. 3, 2015
Common Problem With the Anti-Vaccine Websites
- Correlation Does Not Imply Causation – When to things happen it doesn’t always mean that one is causing the other. This was a common problem with most of the websites found.
- Anecdotes and Stories Used Instead of Evidence – Stories are easy and tend to be subjective. Science is hard and factual.
Contact Us (859-525-8181) if you have any questions about vaccinations!
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About Pediatrics of Florence
We believe that children are more than just “little adults.” They have unique personalities, challenges, and life circumstances and we have made every effort to make our offices and care as “kid friendly” as possible. We have an aquatic theme in the waiting rooms (separated for sick and well children) as well as themed examination rooms. All of our physicians are Board Certified Pediatricians and members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and our nurse practitioners are all licensed Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and are available to see both well and sick children.
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