The Dangers of Falsely Claiming a Political Figure is Anti-Vax
Disappointed in @KatherineEban and @VanityFair for publishing a misleading piece about Gov. DeSantis. In 2008, then Sen. Obama hedged in an interview during his successful presidential campaign about the link between the measles vax and autism. If people draw the false conclusion Gov. DeSantis is anti-vax from this piece, it may persuade them.
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Jay Bhattacharya
Professor Stanford School of Medicine. MD, PhD. Health policy: infectious diseases, covid, health economics. Scientific freedom.
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Disappointed in @KatherineEban and @VanityFair for publishing a misleading piece about Gov. DeSantis.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
A short thread follows on the dangers of falsely claiming a leading political figure is anti-vax when he is not.
1/6 -
A personal aside: I spoke with the reporter for hours about the @gbdeclaration, explaining focused protection & lockdown harms. The GBD is the antithesis of a "let it rip" strategy. Yet here's how I am introduced in the piece.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
2/6 pic.twitter.com/PnOTO8S2QY -
I've never said nor thought, "we want them infected", and yet what would a casual reader take away from this misleading juxtaposition? The piece creates a false impression about @gbdeclaration for cheap political points.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
3/6 -
This is more than about politics. If people draw the false conclusion Gov. DeSantis is anti-vax from this piece, it may persuade them to trust all vaccines against both the governor's thinking and good medical advice.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
4/6 -
In 2008, then Sen. Obama hedged in an interview during his successful presidential campaign about the link between the measles vax and autism (though the evidence rejected the link even then).
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
5/6https://t.co/9SXDjgZG8Y -
Pres. Omaba was not anti-vax. Suppose Vanity Fair had made a big deal of this nonsense in 2008 (I know, I know, a huge stretch). It would have fueled anti-vax sentiment. @vanityfair's story is bad for public health.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023
6/6 -
*distrust
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 27, 2023