A “Union of Concerned Scientists” for Vaccines?
Img. courtesy Gray cells/Flickr
I’ve been thinking about the apparent permeation of anti-vaccination attitudes into mainstream culture, and how the scientific community and its supporters could better combat it.
What if we were to create a group similar to the Union of Concerned Scientists, focused on vaccination?
One of the biggest problems we face is popular mistrust of government and medical organizations, who are perceived to be in the pockets of “Big Pharma” vaccine-makers, and of the occasional and lonely high-profile pro-vaccination scientist, like Paul Offit, who get vilified and effectively smeared by anti-vaccination groups as pharma shills.
A coalition of scientists, with expertise in areas related to vaccination, not funded by pharmaceutical companies, with complete transparency regarding potential COIs of its leadership and members (such as pharmaceutical company funding of members’ research projects) might bring sufficient authority and gravitas to become an important, independent voice in the vaccine discussion.
Whatever its shortcomings, the Union of Concerned Scientists seems to be a force to be reckoned with on global climate change, and might serve as a useful model for addressing public perception of scientific issues.
I recognize, of course, that there are already a number of excellent independent writers, bloggers, journalists, as well as organizations like Every Child By Two, the Immunization Action Coalition, and Voices for Vaccines, who present science-based vaccination information to the public, and do it very well, but many of these suffer from their relatively small reach, and (once again) the perception of undue pharmaceutical company influence.
Those danged links.
Project Steve is an excellent model.
I wrote it up as a blog post & forwarded same to some of the big guns.
Personally, I think it is a really good idea. The anti-vax folk keep trotting out their “authorities” that disavow vaccine efficacy — time to have an alternative.
Excellent, Liz.
We should get a group together to talk.
What we need is something akin to the NCSE’s “Project Steve”
http://ncse.com/taking-action/project-steve
NCSE’s “Project Steve” is a tongue-in-cheek parody of a long-standing creationist tradition of amassing lists of “scientists who doubt evolution” or “scientists who dissent from Darwinism.”
Creationists draw up these lists to try to convince the public that evolution is somehow being rejected by scientists, that it is a “theory in crisis.” Not everyone realizes that this claim is unfounded. NCSE has been asked numerous times to compile a list of thousands of scientists affirming the validity of the theory of evolution. Although we easily could have done so, we have resisted. We did not wish to mislead the public into thinking that scientific issues are decided by who has the longer list of scientists!
Project Steve pokes fun at this practice and, because “Steves” are only about 1% of scientists, it also makes the point that tens of thousands of scientists support evolution. And it honors the late Stephen Jay Gould, evolutionary biologist, NCSE supporter, and friend.
We’d like to think that after Project Steve, we’ll have seen the last of bogus “scientists doubting evolution” lists, but it’s probably too much to ask. We hope that when such lists are proposed, reporters and other citizens will ask, “How many Steves are on your list!?”
Project Paul to honor Paul Offit? Project Maurice to honor Maurice Hilleman? (neither first name has the popularity or flexibility of Steve).
Hmmn. Need to find a person seminal to vaccine research & development who has a pretty common first name.
Wait, the internets…
http://www.pokemyname.com/firstname_43_paul.htm
popularity of name PAUL is 16.57 people per thousand.
Names That Includes PAUL as a Whole
Paula, Pauline, Paulette, Paulo, Paulina, Paulino, Paule, Paulus, Spaulding, Johnpaul, Paull, Paulita, Paulomi, Pauling, Paulos, Harpaul, Paulose, Jeanpaul, Jaspaul, Pauliina
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I wasn’t aware of Project Steve–great idea!
I like Project Paul. Project Edward (as in “Jenner”) would be good, but not as common as Paul.
I am having trouble finding a place that will vaccinate me. The hospital I work at has a finite supply and we are suppose to sign up for the shot. The hospital I do my clinical at refused to vaccinate me. Even though the Nurse Manager wants me vaccinated. The Doctor’s office does not have any vaccines. So I want to get the H1N! but am having finding it.
There have been reported cases in my town and the surrounding towns. Both cases are of children. Monday I think I will call my employer again to see if I can get vaccinated.
Oh and the college I work for? They don’t have the vaccine either. Perhaps I can buy it on the black market?
We’re having trouble, too. My daughter got her flumist, but my son needs the injectable–no word on when it might become available. Of course, he came down with something last night, so it might be a moot point.