The Third Big Lie of Vaccinology

 "The Third Big Lie of Vaccinology," which is the belief that an individual's immunity relies on the vaccinations of others. The author argues that this concept is illogical and stems from fear and misinformation.

1. Basic Logic of Immunity: The argument presented is straightforward: if a person (Person A) is vaccinated and that vaccination is effective, then they should not be at risk from unvaccinated individuals (Person B). If Person A claims that their immunity is somehow dependent on Person B being vaccinated, it implies that the vaccine does not work.

2. Intellectual Dishonesty: The article accuses some vaccine proponents of avoiding logical conclusions by "moving the goalposts"—changing the argument once it is disproven, such as insisting on herd immunity, which is not practical for most vaccines.

3. Medical Ethics: The author points out that forcefully vaccinating individuals violates medical ethics and a person’s autonomy over their own body, citing historical legal precedents.

4. Fear and Scapegoating: The piece argues that the notion of one’s immunity being dependent on another's vaccination is rooted in fear that scapegoats those who are unvaccinated. This fear not only misrepresents the efficacy of vaccines but also encourages magical thinking regarding public health.

5. Impacts of Vaccine Policy: The author uses the example of a measles outbreak following the confirmation of a new health secretary, suggesting that blaming unvaccinated individuals for outbreaks perpetuates a false narrative. Statistics show higher measles cases in vaccinated populations than expected, indicating lapses in the argument that vaccines alone would prevent outbreaks.

6. Resistance Against Mandatory Vaccination: The article concludes that the push for widespread vaccination is less about eradicating disease and more about eliminating dissent against vaccination, positioning the unvaccinated as a threat challenging the efficacy of vaccines.

The article asserts that claiming one's immunity is reliant upon the vaccinations of others undermines the credibility of vaccines. It emphasizes the need for logical reasoning against fear-based arguments in vaccination discussions and criticizes the strategies used to promote mandatory vaccination policies. The author advocates for respect for personal choice in health decisions without unjust blame towards unvaccinated individuals.

https://brownstone.org/articles/the-third-big-lie-of-vaccinology/