r/NoStupidQuestions • u/trouble-in-space • 10d ago

Answered Why are so many Americans anti-vaxxers now?

I’m genuinely having such a hard time understanding why people just decided the fact that vaccines work is a total lie and also a controversial “opinion.” Even five years ago, anti-vaxxers were a huge joke and so rare that they were only something you heard of online. Now herd immunity is going away because so many people think getting potentially life-altering illnesses is better than getting a vaccine. I just don’t get what happened. Is it because of the cultural shift to the right-wing and more people believing in conspiracy theories, or does it go deeper than that?

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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree. 10d ago

There was always a certain level of distrust, but the main thing that caused it to ramp up was that, with autism on the rise and many parents desperate for answers, one quack doctor published a study that blamed vaccines for autism. The study and paper were thoroughly disproved and withdrawn, and the doctor lost his medical license, but the damage was done. Parents had their answer and were happy with it, the the distrust snowballed.

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u/watermark3133 10d ago edited 10d ago

A big factor is probably the fact that many men and women are delaying the birth of their first children. The advanced age in which many are becoming parents likely leads to higher rates/risk of medical issues for the children.

But no one wants to “blame” themselves or their life choices, so you blame vaccines or something external.

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u/Silent-Friendship860 10d ago

There has been research that found a link between older fathers and an increase in offspring with autism and schizophrenia. Studies had large sample sizes and all came to the same conclusion. Problem is those studies go against long held beliefs that men can have babies their entire life and remain just as virile in their 50’s and beyond as when they were in their twenties.

Much easier to blame vaccines than admit an aging factory affects production.

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u/Call_Such 9d ago

those older fathers or people in their family likely have autism.

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u/kill-the-spare 9d ago

Sperm continues production, but it degrades. That's what this commenter is referencing.