I don't watch The View, and never have, as I've always worked during the day. However upon hearing that Jenny McCarthy has been selected to fill one of the open slots on the show, I am disappointed. I know that she is going to use this platform to spread her ill-informed activism, and cause even more damage to the public.
You probably know what I'm talking about, but if you don't, let me get you up to speed. Jenny McCarthy has a son, who was diagnosed with autism in 2005. Before this diagnosis, she was using new-age terms like "crystal-child" and "indigo-mom" to convey how special her son was, being that everyone is "gifted." Anyway, that's neither here nor there. In 1998, there was a paper published in The Lancet, claiming that there was a link between autism and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations. Jenny McCarthy decided that her son's autism was caused by his vaccinations. Other studies have shown that there is no correlation between vaccinations and autism, The Lancet has retracted the published paper, and Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who wrote the fraudulent paper, is now barred from practicing medicine in the U.K. All of those are minor inconveniences that we can ignore, because Jenny McCarthy has a mother's intuition, it's all a big conspiracy, or some other BS.
Jenny has used her celebrity status to spread this ignorance, and has caused real damage to public health. When I was a child, vaccines weren't optional, they were given at school. I can remember lining up in the gym in first grade for shots. And now, because of our society's need to coddle everyone's beliefs, parents can choose to not have their children vaccinated. This is a real danger, and will lead to serious repercussions if the trend continues. It's a real shame how people can be swayed to believe something that is just not true. I know nursing students who believe that vaccinations can cause autism. Nursing students! The people who will be taking care of you, me, and our children. I just don't understand how someone can choose to study science/medicine and believe something like this. There are no valid studies that support the idea that vaccines lead to autism.
You may wonder, well what business is it of mine if a parent chooses not to vaccinate their child? If their choice didn't endanger anyone else, you'd be right. However, their choice to not vaccinate their child puts other children at risk. Vaccinations are not 100% effective, so even if your child has been vaccinated, it is still a possibility that they can get sick from an unvaccinated/infected child. Also, certain vaccinations have to be given at a later age. The MMR vaccine, for example, is typically given at twelve months old. So say you have a six year old and a five month old. Your six year old is going to school and is unknowingly exposed to a child who is coming down with measles. Your six year old is vaccinated and doesn't get sick, but they come home and play with your five month old. Your five month old gets sick. Your five month old could face complications, or even death, as drastic as that sounds. This is where I have a real problem with people who choose not to vaccinate their children. Not only are they putting their child at risk for diseases that their child shouldn't have to be at risk for, but they are putting other children at risk for these diseases as well.
Jenny McCarthy is not a scientist. Jenny McCarthy is not a Doctor. Jenny McCarthy did not graduate college and should not have any authority over people when it comes to public health. She is an actress, playboy playmate, and model. None of these things are credentials that should allow her to attempt to "educate" anyone about vaccinations.
I understand that Jenny was distraught at her son's diagnosis, and that she was desperate for an answer and a cure. She put her son through all kinds of therapies for his autism including diet changes, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, chelation therapy, aromatherapy, electromagnets, vitamins, prescription drugs, and who knows what else. She was obviously desperate to help him, and I am not denying that. However, I believe that her conclusion of the cause for his autism is wrong, and that her actions are dangerous. Non-medical vaccine exemption rates are climbing because the public believes her and others like her. Our society is being put at risk because of misinformation.
She claims that her son's autism has been cured. There is no cure for autism. If her son's symptoms have completely subsided, then the only valid answer is that he was originally misdiagnosed.
I am disappointed that she has been given a place on a show that runs in the daytime, and will reach stay-at-home/full-time parents. I realize The View is looking for someone with controversial views to stir things up and generate ratings, but giving her a readily accessible place to spread this bad information to her target audience is irresponsible.
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