Canuck Gal

Amanda Peet and the Results of Her Educated Research into Vaccines..

Thank heaven for Amanda Peet, one of the few celebrities who has actually conducted educated research on the topic of vaccines, and is speaking out against those who are still refusing to vaccinate their children.

A light of common sense in the dark world of celebrity causes, where popularity apparently validates uneducated opinions, and trumps all logic and science.

Peet was interviewed by “Cookie”, a parenting magazine, and described her own concerns about vaccines for her own child, and the steps she took to research her legitimate concerns. Peet, a university graduate, came to the conclusion that was supported by science.

Now, anyone can have critical thinking skills, but perhaps those who are educated actually utilize them?

This is in direct contrast to Jenny McCarthy, who was applauded when she went on the “Oprah” show and proudly described how her research into autism started with “Google”. McCarthy continued to receive applause for spouting her unscientific and inaccurate opinions about autism and vaccines.

I have to say that I don’t believe Amanda Peet should be listened to because she is a celebrity, I am saying that her opinion on vaccines is more credible.

Why? Because she supports it with scientifically accurate facts, and understands that evidence-based findings are to be believed over inaccurate media reporting and emotion-based responses.

Bravo, Amanda Peet. Thank you for being a responsible parent to your son, and for agreeing to the interview in “Cookie” magazine.

The interview that started it all.. (In Part, Emphasis Mine)

I was shocked at the amount of misinformation floating around, particularly in Hollywood,” says Peet, who quickly boned up on the hot-button controversies surrounding the topic, including the unproven link between certain vaccines and autism; the safety of preservatives like mercury-based thimerosal; and the fear that the relatively high number of shots kids receive today can overwhelm young immune systems. Her conclusion? Well, not only is Frankie up-to-date on her vaccines (with no staggering), but her mom will soon appear in public-service announcements for Every Child by Two. “I buy 99 percent organic food for Frankie, and I don’t like to give her medicine or put sunscreen on her,” says Peet. “But now that I’ve done my research, vaccines do not concern me.” What does concern her is the growing number of unvaccinated children who are benefiting from the “shield” created by the inoculated—we are protected from viruses only if everyone, or most everyone, is immunized: “Frankly, I feel that parents who don’t vaccinate their children are parasites.”

The apology for the “parasite” comment.. (In Part, Emphasis Mine)

I believe in my heart that my use of the word “parasites” was mean and divisive; I completely understand why it offended some parents, and in particular, parents of children with autism who feel that vaccines caused their illness. For this I am truly sorry. Since my mom has Parkinson’s Disease, I know what it feels like to want a concrete cause, and a concrete cure, as soon as possible.

And the best summary of the vaccination “debate” from a celebrity who actually has a post-secondary education: (In Part, Emphasis Mine)

However, I still believe that the decision not to vaccinate our children bodes for a dangerous future. Vast reductions in immunization will lead to a resurgence of deadly viruses. This is as indisputable as global warming. I know a lot of parents who secretly use as a justification, “Well, enough other people are vaccinating, so therefore, we don’t have to.”

In this era of cynicism, it’s hard to believe that any corporation, medical or otherwise, has our best interests at heart. But it’s irresponsible to suggest that virtually the entire medical community, and the CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics are behind a massive cover-up about vaccine safety. Fourteen studies have been conducted (both here in the US and abroad), and these tests are reproducible; no matter where they are administered, or who is funding them, the conclusion is the same: there is no association between autism and vaccines. How many more studies do we need to conduct on vaccines, before we start re-channeling our efforts and money towards research on autism?

The real question is why the media and journalists are still presenting vaccine safety as a controversy. There are a few fringe medical groups and parent advocacy groups who claim that vaccines cause autism, or that they have too many “toxins,” or “viral challenges” for our tiny babies’ bodies to handle. In fact, although there are many more vaccine doses given today, the entire vaccine schedule contains far fewer antigens—components of viruses or bacteria—than vaccines of the past. (In other words, it’s more shots, but less vaccine.) Why doesn’t anyone talk about this? There are still fringe scientists who claim that HIV is a government conspiracy, but these people do not get a lot of media coverage, as it’s accepted that this theory has no medical/biological plausibility.

My concern is for our children and their futures. In the fifties, vaccines were recognized as life-saving. My mom had polio and was quarantined when she was 6 years old. It’s so hard to appreciate vaccines now that so few children are dying from preventable diseases today, but that could all change if we’re not vigilant. There are currently multiple measles outbreaks in the United States. Hopefully children do not have to die before people start to realize the cost of withholding vaccines.

Dr. Steven Novella:”Celebrity Smackdown”, Amanda Peet Vs. Jenny McCarthy (In Part)

The problem comes, in my opinion, when actors and actresses feel that their political opinions or ideology are somehow more valuable than anyone else’s because of their fame. I don’t necessarily blame them – they have a right to express their opinions and their fame gives them an outlet. I do think that if they are going to trade on their fame then they have a responsibility for what they promote, but I am not questioning their right to promote whatever they choose. Rather I maintain that the public should largely not care what celebrities think about issues that have nothing to do with their art and profession.

Recently I have been very critical of actress Jenny McCarthy for becoming the celebrity spokesperson for the anti-vaccinationist movement. My criticisms have focussed on what she has said – endorsing nonsense about toxins in vaccines, the “too many too soon” slogan which is not evidence-based, and generally promoting the false controversy about a link between vaccines and autism.

But hooray for Amanda Peet. Again – I don’t think this is an issue to be decided by celebrity endorsements, but at least she came down on the side of science and evidence.

Another Valid Point from Dr. Steven Novella.. (In Part)

While I appreciate Amanda Peet’s support, I feel strongly that scientific questions should be handled by the scientific community. Celebrities are great when they support causes – but when they second guess the scientific community and decide to advocate for their own scientific conclusions, they are more likely to cause harm than good.

More Wisdom from Orac.. (In Part, Emphasis Mine)

Peet’s remarks were intelligent and scientifically accurate, in marked contrast to those of another celebrity mother, Jenny McCarthy, whose output of stupid and scientifically ignorant anti-vaccine propaganda is enough to risk an IQ drop of 10 points in just about anyone subjected to her malignant pseudoscientific nonsense.