Despite all of the scientific evidence made available by medical professionals, there are still a lot of dedicated anti-vaccine parents out there. These people’s false vaccine beliefs are not only unfounded but also dangerous. Unfortunately, as one Facebook post by an anti-vax mother shows, people who are against vaccines sometimes live in an echo chamber.
The Facebook status posted by the anti-vax mother shows a parent lamenting their adult child’s decision to have herself vaccinated. While the status itself shows a stunning level of ignorance, where the problems really lie is in the comments of the status. The mother’s friends seem to support her and parrot her beliefs.
Anti-vaccine beliefs seemed to stem from Andrew Wakefield’s now discredited 1998 article published in the Lancet. The paper claimed that vaccines were linked to autism, however, in 2010 the Lancet discredited the study as the results could not be replicated. Wakefield was also stripped of his medical license the same year.
Despite the overwhelming evidence from the medical and scientific community, some people, such as this anti-vax mother, still seem to think that vaccines are dangerous.
Furthermore, people who believe strongly in something will often only seek out opinions that support their beliefs. This is known as confirmation bias, and the comments are a perfect example of this.
The comments continue to support the anti-vax mother’s false belief that she might know more about vaccines and medicine than an actual doctor. Luckily it appears the woman’s daughter knew better than what her mother might have tried to teach her.
The anti-vaccine movement has had real-world consequences. California passed one of the toughest inoculation laws in the United States in 2015 after a measles outbreak that originated at Disneyland.
According to the World Health Organization, reported cases of measles have also risen sharply in Italy, Romania, and Ukraine. Across Europe, cases of measles almost quadrupled last year (21,000 cases in 2017 compared to 5273 in 2016).
However, people who share the opinions of this anti-vax mother typically hold onto their beliefs so strongly, that no amount of actual scientific evidence will change their minds. In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
People whose opinions are challenged may hold more strongly to those beliefs. This phenomenon was deemed the “backfire effect” by journalist David McRaney. The backfire effect was observed in a 2006 study by researchers at the University of Michigan and Georgia State University, which showed that people’s political beliefs became stronger when presented with contradictory evidence.
While it’s nice to know that this mother cares enough about her daughter to worry about her health and well-being, she should at the very least respect her daughter’s decisions without openly criticizing them on Facebook.
By the end of the comment thread, things take a turn for the worse, with people beginning to hope that the daughter becomes ill or suffers a serious medical reaction. Even the woman’s mother hopes for her to get some kind of “wake up call.”
Online reaction to the Facebook status and its comments have been negative. People are angered at the anti-vax mother’s stance and apparent lack of knowledge.
Other commenters were impressed by the daughter’s insistence on getting vaccinated, despite what her mother was telling her for years.
Some people expressed not anger, but sadness at the fact that some people would choose to refuse medical care for either themselves or their children, and that doing so puts others at risk.
Click on ‘Next Post’ to read another story and don’t forget to SHARE this with your friends on Facebook.
Anti-Vax Mom’s Messages After Finding Out Her 19-Year-Old Daughter Got Vaccinated Will Leave You Baffled
Written by Colin Leggett
Despite all of the scientific evidence made available by medical professionals, there are still a lot of dedicated anti-vaccine parents out there. These people’s false vaccine beliefs are not only unfounded but also dangerous. Unfortunately, as one Facebook post by an anti-vax mother shows, people who are against vaccines sometimes live in an echo chamber.
The Facebook status posted by the anti-vax mother shows a parent lamenting their adult child’s decision to have herself vaccinated. While the status itself shows a stunning level of ignorance, where the problems really lie is in the comments of the status. The mother’s friends seem to support her and parrot her beliefs.
Anti-vaccine beliefs seemed to stem from Andrew Wakefield’s now discredited 1998 article published in the Lancet. The paper claimed that vaccines were linked to autism, however, in 2010 the Lancet discredited the study as the results could not be replicated. Wakefield was also stripped of his medical license the same year.
Despite the overwhelming evidence from the medical and scientific community, some people, such as this anti-vax mother, still seem to think that vaccines are dangerous.
Furthermore, people who believe strongly in something will often only seek out opinions that support their beliefs. This is known as confirmation bias, and the comments are a perfect example of this.
The comments continue to support the anti-vax mother’s false belief that she might know more about vaccines and medicine than an actual doctor. Luckily it appears the woman’s daughter knew better than what her mother might have tried to teach her.
The anti-vaccine movement has had real-world consequences. California passed one of the toughest inoculation laws in the United States in 2015 after a measles outbreak that originated at Disneyland.
According to the World Health Organization, reported cases of measles have also risen sharply in Italy, Romania, and Ukraine. Across Europe, cases of measles almost quadrupled last year (21,000 cases in 2017 compared to 5273 in 2016).
However, people who share the opinions of this anti-vax mother typically hold onto their beliefs so strongly, that no amount of actual scientific evidence will change their minds. In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
People whose opinions are challenged may hold more strongly to those beliefs. This phenomenon was deemed the “backfire effect” by journalist David McRaney. The backfire effect was observed in a 2006 study by researchers at the University of Michigan and Georgia State University, which showed that people’s political beliefs became stronger when presented with contradictory evidence.
While it’s nice to know that this mother cares enough about her daughter to worry about her health and well-being, she should at the very least respect her daughter’s decisions without openly criticizing them on Facebook.
By the end of the comment thread, things take a turn for the worse, with people beginning to hope that the daughter becomes ill or suffers a serious medical reaction. Even the woman’s mother hopes for her to get some kind of “wake up call.”
Online reaction to the Facebook status and its comments have been negative. People are angered at the anti-vax mother’s stance and apparent lack of knowledge.
Other commenters were impressed by the daughter’s insistence on getting vaccinated, despite what her mother was telling her for years.
Some people expressed not anger, but sadness at the fact that some people would choose to refuse medical care for either themselves or their children, and that doing so puts others at risk.
Click on ‘Next Post’ to read another story and don’t forget to SHARE this with your friends on Facebook.
More From Bestie
Related Posts
Nurse’s Facebook Post Warns About Flu Symptom You Probably Aren’t Looking For
Last week, a Nebraska nurse posted a PSA on her Facebook page, warning people about what she believes is an often-overlooked flu symptom: flu hives. In Brodi Willard’s January 26th post, she said that her son came home from school one day with persistent hives. “Every time he would scratch, …
Woman Takes The Same New Year’s Pic 11 Years In A Row And She Hasn’t Aged A Bit
Actress and comedian Meredith Stepien has been taking the same new year hair photo for 11 years. Since 2008, she has artfully formed her hair into the year that is being celebrated. Each Instagram hair photo is different in its own way, but one thing remains constant: Stepien’s dazzling smile. …
Danny Masterson Ousted From Netflix Show, ‘The Ranch’ Actor Still Denies Rape Claims
Former That 70s Show star Danny Masterson has been fired from his new Netflix comedy series The Ranch amid rape allegations made against him. “As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch,” a Netflix spokesman told CNN in a statement Tuesday. Netflix …
7 Action Movie Skills That Might Help You Out One Day
When movies are created, they are meant to tell a story. Whether they are fiction, or non-fiction, there is always a message. Take action movies for example, there are certain action movie skills that could help you. In most cases the stunts are real, and when they escape, it’s mostly …
4 Ovarian Cancer Symptoms That Every Woman Needs To Know
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. For many years scientists and researchers have worked around the clock to try and find cures for every type of cancer. To the present day we are still learning about this deadly disease, and without a cure, we are left …
Sylvester Stallone’s Ex-Wife Brigitte Nielsen Says Sexual Assault Claim is a Lie
Sylvester Stallone’s ex-wife, Brigitte Nielsen, has come to the actor’s defence amid allegations he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in 1986. Nielsen says there is no way Stallone could have committed the sexual assault against the 16-year-old in Las Vegas because she was with him the entire time. The Daily …
Five Pharmaceutical Drugs That Can Destroy Your Health
More often than not, prescription drugs aid with certain health problems and can also save lives in the process. We take certain pharmaceutical drugs more often than we would like to admit, but what many of us are unaware of is that some of these pharmaceutical drugs are doing more …
A Mouthwash That Can Help Prevent Plaque On Your Teeth
Everybody wants to have the perfect teeth. Some people wear braces to get super straight, others are lucky enough to not need braces but want pearly whites. Regardless of what you aim for, having a perfect smile adds a lot to your confidence and how you feel. Having a healthy …
Iconic National Geographic Cover Illustrates The Damage We’re Doing To The Planet
National Geographic’s latest cover is a testament to the human impact on our home planet. The most recent addition features what appears to be a massive iceberg in the ocean but is, in fact, a plastic bag. The June 2018 cover goes along with Nat Geo’s latest campaign #planetorplastic which …
Mapped: The Most Distinctive Causes Of Death In Each State
Wanna find out how the sweet release of death might finally come for you? Well, if you’re an American, a 2015 map revealing the most distinctive causes of death in each state might tell you! In 2015, the American Center for Disease Control put out a map revealing, in their …
New Samsung Advert Absolutely Destroys iPhone
Do you have an iPhone or a Samsung? How are you enjoying your iPhone or Samsung? Do you plan on switching your iPhone to a Samsung or vice versa? These are questions that people have on a regular basis. It happens more often than you think, and you’re only going …
16 Weird Things People Have Seen That Will Have You Scratching Your Head
Part of the wonder of stepping out of the house is that you never know just what you’re going to see that day. A good ol’ wander in the outside world can lead to: Running into an old friend Seeing beautiful scenery Meeting someone new However, there are also sights …
Here’s How To Detox Your Body So You Can Prevent Getting Sick And Tired
We are living in a world that is surrounded by various toxins, dangerous chemicals, and serious stress. Some of us are around it more intensely than others, but nevertheless, we are all surrounded by it more or less. People these days are trying more and more to figure out ways …
By Not Standing For Korea At The Winter Olympics, VP Mike Pence Embarrassed Many Americans
After Vice-President Mike Pence refused to stand for the united Korean Olympic delegation, many Americans reacted with embarrassment and anger. During the opening ceremonies on February 9th, North and South Korea united as an athletic delegation, marching together for the first time since 2007. For many, it was a welcome …
You Can Volunteer To Cuddle Drug-Addicted Babies To Help Them Heal
Sadly, every day there are babies born addicted to opioids and fighting for their lives. They need special love and care in order for them to make it through the withdrawal process, which can be excruciating. With these newborns potentially spending weeks, even months in the NICU, hospitals around North …
104-Year-Old Man Dies After Traveling To Switzerland For Assisted Suicide
Australian scientist David Goodall lived a remarkable life, and at age 104, he chose to end it on his own terms. Goodall made the trip from Australia to Switzerland, where, with the assistance of medical professionals, he received a lethal dose of barbiturates in an assisted suicide procedure. He fell …
Netflix Paid $105 Million To Unite Some Of The World’s Greatest Actors For What May Be The Most Anticipated Film Of The Century
What do you get when you put together Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel and Al Pacino? An awesome movie. That’s what. On top of all these incredible icons, you also have an Oscar-winning director: Martin Scorsese. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s happening! According to reports, …
Serena Williams Asks For Help As Daughter Alexis, 3 Months, Suffers Through Teething
Serena Williams got married to Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, in New Orleans in November. The marriage ceremony was filled with such A-list superstars that including the likes of Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Kanye West. The pair first started dating in 2015 and then announced their engagement the next year in December …
24 Inanimate Objects Sexier Than Blake Shelton
This year, People magazine named Blake Shelton the “Sexiest Man Alive,” and, well, some folks were not all that impressed. It wasn’t hard to see why. Out of all the Hollywood hunks to choose from, Blake Shelton is the sexiest? No. Absolutely not. There are too many people that are …
Ranch Owners Return to Find 29 Horses Dead in California Wildfires
California wildfires kill many animals, but these are usually wild creatures dwelling in the California forests. However, these wildfires can also be deadly to family-owned animals. Tragically, 29 horses burned to death as a California ranch was hit by Creek Fire, one of the most dangerous active wildfires, had to …
8 Signs That He Is In Love
At the beginning stages of a relationship, women have a tendency to be vulnerable according to Psychology Today. Whether it’s because they’ve been betrayed in the past by their partners, or they simply just don’t trust men. Regardless of the reason, once the relationship begins to progress, they are constantly …
Man Sends Graduation Pics To Wrong Number, Stranger’s Reply Has The Internet Smiling
Although it may seem like the world is ready to end, there are some really good things happening if you know where to look. In this case, a young man recently graduated from college and sent his graduation photos to the wrong number. Normally such an exchange would be something …
24 Photos That Were Edited So Badly We Can’t Stop Laughing
Sometimes people go too far with their Photoshopping. Do the pictures turn out poorly? Occasionally they do. However, there are other times when these ridiculous Photoshop edits actually create a new masterpiece, something that stands out and says “this may be silly and look terrible, but you know it’s pretty …
Kanye West Lost Some Big Followers After Pro-Trump Tweets
For over a decade now, Kanye West has been one of the most gifted artists and influential voices of our generation. From illustrious albums to an established shoe and clothing line of his own, Kanye has undoubtedly made himself one of the most important figures of our time in pop …
Kim Kardashian Playing Softball In This Strip Of Fabric Is Really A Sight To See
Anyone who follows Kim Kardashian knows she’s the biggest Yeezy fan out there. The social media mogul promotes husband Kanye West’s fashion brand faithfully and relentlessly. Whenever a new season of Yeezy comes out, you can bet Kim K will be rocking those new styles, no matter where she’s going …
Which Banana Would You Eat? Your Answer May Have An Effect On Your Health
Banana lovers don’t fool around when it comes to how they like the ripeness of their favorite fruit. Some prefer to stick to the under-ripe green bananas, while others like their overripe bananas that are almost completely brown. While taste is a factor to consider when choosing what color bananas …
Top 5 Bedtime Drinks To Lose Excess Weight
People are constantly struggling with excess weight. In fact, the National Institute of Health states that 75% of Americans are overweight. What’s even more disturbing is that they also state that 33% of those people are obese. Obesity and certain conditions such as insomnia and other sleep disorders have a …
Girl Who Was Face Of Akubra Takes Own Life After Bullying
According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2014, 6% of high school students reported that they were being bullied during the school year. The CDC also reported that 14.8% of high school students also reported being bullied online as well. With that said, NTD News has reported that a …
An Actress Lived For Decades In This New York City Apartment—For $28 A Month
Even though New York City is expensive to live in, one actress was able to rent a two-bedroom apartment in the Greenwich Village for only $28 a month for decades. This actress was named Patricia O’Grady. She moved to New Y0rk City in 1955 with the dream of becoming an …
Incredible Photographs Show Gorilla Cradle And Kiss Her Newborn Baby
Animals are a wonderful, fascinating thing. We find it pretty astonishing the way they tend to interact with humans. Some of them get super fearful, others get violent. Then there are those animals who just feel completely comfortable and normal with other animals. But what about when animals interact with …
HUD Secretary Proposes Rent Increases For Low-Income Americans
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has proposed legislation that would introduce rent increases for low-income Americans who are receiving federal housing assistance. On April 25th, the HUD secretary introduced the Making Affordable Housing Work Act of 2018, which could triple rent payments and expand work requirements for low-income …
Dog Survives 5 Nights In Bitter Minnesota Cold Huddled In Window Well
Winter weather comes with its own set of hazards, but it can be particularly dangerous for animals without shelter. One blind 13-year-old dog was found in dire straits after spending five nights huddled in a window well in bitter temperatures. He was found just in time by a neighbour who …
Piers Morgan Reveals Why Trump Kept His Water Glass Covered During His Interview
Television personality Piers Morgan recently interviewed President Donald Trump on ITV News. When Morgan is involved, controversy usually isn’t far behind. It was Donald Trump’s first international broadcast interview since becoming President of the United States. Piers Morgan promoted the interview on his Twitter, saying “BREAKING NEWS: President Trump has declared …
24 Secrets About ‘Friends’ That Only Came Out After The Show Was Over
Friends is the TV show everyone watched and continues to watch. There was something special about it. In every group of friends, there was a Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Rachel, Ross and/or Monica. And even if there wasn’t, you all wished there was. It was one of those sitcoms that has lived …
Mom Refuses To Abort Baby. 3 Months Later, Gets A Note About Baby’s Looks That Makes Her Sob
Sara Heller and her partner Chris Eidam were all set for their first child. Sara was going to be giving birth to a baby boy, whom the couple named Brody. However, doctors found something unfortunate in Sara’s ultrasound. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, they discovered that Brody had a cleft …
A Thermometer Just Broke At -62°C (-80°F) In The World’s Coldest Village, And The Photos Are Breathtaking
Oymyakon, Siberia is the coldest village on Earth. It’s so cold there, that thermometers literally break. The freezing cold village reached a low of -62 degrees Celsius this year, but Oymyakon also holds the record for the coldest recorded temperature in history (outside of Antarctica): a bitterly chilling -67.7 degrees …
Here Are The 12 Shortest Basketball Players In NBA History
Basketball players tend to be much taller and leaner than most athletes. There’s no denying that height gives a player an advantage in the sport, being tall has important features such as: Arm reach Hand span According to the NBA, male professional players tend to be about nine inches taller …
5 Foods To Avoid If You Have Anxiety
The Canadian Mental Health Association defines anxiety as a mental illness that seriously impacts our lives and how we think, feel and act. For example, they explain that a panic attack, which is a type of anxiety episode, is a feeling of sudden and intense fear that will last for …
Kristen Bell Shows Off Post-Baby Mesh Undie Pic Because She’s All Of Us
Kristen Bell and their husband Dax Shepard have quickly become one of Hollywood’s most adored couples. Refreshingly honest, these two are never afraid to tackle the not-so-glamorous stuff – and pregnancy is no exception. Actress Kristen Bell shared never-before-seen photos on Instagram of her pregnancy with daughter Delta, who was …
Woman Hasn’t Shaved Any Body Hair In A Year And Her Husband Loves It
A 28-year-old Polish woman by the name of Sonia Cytrowska started shaving her body hair at the age of 12. According to The Sun, Sonia said that she began shaving her body after seeing hairless women on TV and in magazines. In a similar article done by Unilad, Sonia admitted …
Attempted Robbery On Families At Sao Paulo School Foiled By Mother
A gunman approached a group of children and family members in an attempted robbery, only to be shot and subdued by an off-duty police officer in Sao Paulo. Katia da Silva Sastre, a 442-year-old military police officer, acted quickly and was able to keep the group safe. The entire scene …
75-Year-Old Photographer Who Took The Famous Windows XP ‘Bliss’ Just Shot 3 New Smartphone Wallpapers
Charles O’Rear, who shot the world’s most viewed photo for Microsoft in 1996, has taken three new photos for Lufthansa to serve as smartphone screensavers. During a 36-year career, O’Rear has worked for the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s DOCUMERICA project on conservation. But he’s …
Viral 4-Second Audio Clip Is Dividing The Internet
Wow, I can’t believe it’s 2015! Man, what a great year it is too! I mean sure, the attacks on Charlie Hebdo were awful and heartbreaking, but at least mass shootings are going to end soon! I mean, there’s no way they don’t put harsher legislation on guns after all …
20 Eternally Young Celebrities Who Defy Their Real Age
There are certain celebrities we’ve grown up with over the years. But have we ever taken the time to notice that they always seem to look the same? They might change genres of music, or movies, or dip into other forms of entertainment, but one thing hasn’t changed among all …
Nanny Falls In love With Dying Baby She’s Taking Care Of, And Makes An Offer Her Parents Can’t Refuse
It’s an incomparable feeling when a child comes along and steals our hearts. For some, it may be a child of their own, and for others, a child in dire need. For Kiersten Miles, it only took three weeks to connect to baby Talia, and come to a life-saving decision. …
People Call For Father Christmas To Be Renamed ‘Person Christmas’
The holiday season has come and gone. It brings joy and happiness to millions of people around the world. Miracles happen and dreams are made all in the name of Father Christmas. Unfortunately, the name that has symbolized the holiday season since the beginning of time may be on its …
16 Kit Harington And Emilia Clarke Were Absolute Friendship Goals
Everyone had a bit of a freakout moment when Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow got together. I mean you have to admit, the two characters make a pretty cute couple. But believe it or not, the actors who play them are even cuter. Though Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington aren’t …
One Glass Of This Could Help You Empty Out Waste From Your Colon
The human colon is an important part of the body. An article on PubMed explains that the function of the colon includes the conservation of water and electrolytes as well as the controlled evacuation of feces. Extensive research has shown that the health of your colon can have a direct …
Man Arrested For Punching Girlfriend In The Shower Because Someone Ate The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie
Richard Hess is a 31-year-old butcher from Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he was charged with domestic battery after he punched the left side of his girlfriend’s face over some cookies. He was arrested last Thursday night after he allegedly punched his girlfriend because she ate the last of his …
Ginger Water: One The Healthiest Drinks To Help Burn All The Fat
Losing weight can be frustrating. Putting together a healthy diet and exercise program is grueling work. The long hours you put in at the gym, only to come home and step on the scale and see no progress isn’t easy. When this happens, people tend to turn to expensive supplements …
About The Author
Colin
More from this AuthorColin is a writer and comedian. He graduated from McMaster in 2011 and completed the Television Writing and Producing Program at Humber. He enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics.