Anti-Vax Loons Prepare to Massively Ignore Science

Deborah Mackenzie writes for New Scientists "Short Sharp Science" blog that we must "fight the anti-vaccine brigade with science. She explains that the number of people who get side-effects, like Guillain-Barre Syndrome (which got a lot of misappropriated press coverage), are actually higher in instances of people who get the flu than are in cases of people who get the flu vaccine.

Some 40 times as many will get Guillain-Barré after flu than would have got it after flu vaccine.

But how can that be? You mean actually having the flu is worse than not having it? Who'd have thought?

But Mackenzie is making a mistake if she thinks we can fight the anti-vax lunacy with science. Clearly, science and statics mean nothing to these people, nor do logic and reason. Sometimes the only way to fight fire is with fire. So here are three foolproof arguments in favor of vaccinations that will surely not stand the test of statistics, but make compelling arguments anyway (which is the methodology of the anti-vax lobby):

1. Preliminary research shows that people who get the swine flu vaccination typically get more promotions at work.
2. A report out of Britain shows women are subconsciously more willing to have sex with men who have been vaccinated, and less willing to have sex with men who have, or have had, the real swine flu.
3. Early studies show that kids who get the swine flu vaccine score better on the SAT.

Argue these things, ignore what "scientists" or "people with factual, real evidence" argue against you, and surely you'll win the insane war against the anti-vax nutsoes!


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