Need some more proof that all of those scary stories from anti-vaccine influencers aren’t true?
What stories?
Scary Stories From Anti-Vaccine Influencers Aren’t True
Well, how about these stories from Roman Bystrianyk?
Stories that he presents as true stories of vaccine injury…
But are they?
Let’s see.
First, there is the story of a girl with boils all over her body.
The story is from a letter to the editor of Physical Culture magazine founded by Bernarr Macfadden, a popular anti-vaccine influencer in the early 1900s.
Anyway, she died because she had tuberculosis (consumption), not because of a vaccine injury.
Next, we have a story from The Value of Vaccination: A Non-partisan Review of Its History and Results.
Is this a vaccine injury story?
A vaccine injury that caused diarrhea and tuberculosis?
I don’t think so.
What about the next story?
While it is difficult to know exactly what they are describing, it doesn’t sound like a vaccine injury, after all, the child received a smallpox vaccine and then, some time later, developed a cough. And the wound and leg swelling?
I don’t see a connection to his smallpox vaccine in this story.
Next, we have another story of a girl who died after getting a smallpox vaccine.
A girl who died because she got sick with tuberculosis.
Lastly, there is the story of a five-year-old.
A five-year-old who developed inflammation under his right knee two weeks after getting a smallpox vaccine in his arm.
Inflammation that is obviously some sort of an abscess.
Another story that is not about a vaccine injury.
What else?
Anti-vaccine influencers have been repeating these stories for over 100 years, hoping they scare people away from getting vaccinated and protected.
Be more skeptical!
Stop listening to them.
And yes, tuberculosis (consumption) used to be one of the most common and deadliest diseases in the United States and Europe throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century. In fact, 25% of deaths at the time were from tuberculosis. Add that to the fact that it was still common for people to be getting smallpox vaccines at this time, and it is easy to see why the two might seem to be associated with each other.
Oh dear. How long before we see the anti-vaxxers reciting that they know 11 people who died of consumption because of a vaccine, then? 🙄