Dr. Battacharya, through his misinformed denial of the seriousness of COVID and the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, is in large part responsible for the loss of confidence in science and medicine in the general population.
THIS - Massive hypocrisy, wrapped in sanctimony. Likewise Prasad, Marty and Bobby. COVID was the best thing that ever happened to these "contrarian" whores for the rightwing misinformation machine.
Bhattacharya is another member of Secretary Kennedy's posse who will help drive down the health of our country. Kennedy and The Posse will be responsible for many deaths in the upcoming years; many more than ICE. It's hard to believe he continues on his eugenicist trail unchecked.
This is such an important “precision matters” post, because the harm here isn’t only in what was said, but in what the public reliably hears when an NIH director answers a vaccine–autism question without clearly closing the door.
You’re exactly right that public health communication isn’t graded like an oral exam. In a misinformation-saturated environment, a technically careful non-answer functions as a permission structure: it keeps “maybe” alive, and “maybe” is all the anti-vax ecosystem needs to amplify doubt. That’s why the sentence “vaccines do not cause autism” is not a slogan; it’s a boundary condition for trust.
I also appreciate your point that this isn’t about accusing Bhattacharya of endorsing a false claim. It’s about recognizing the asymmetry: the evidence base is overwhelmingly consistent on no causal link, while the social cost of hedging is immediate; lower uptake, more outbreaks, and more preventable harm, especially to infants and immunocompromised patients.
The meta-lesson is bigger than this one hearing: leaders of scientific institutions don’t just convey facts; they set the epistemic tone. When they treat debunked questions as still “open,” they unintentionally re-litigate settled science in the public square.
Thank you for naming the strategy and the stakes so clearly.
Thank you, I’ve tried explaining this to family but now because of these foolish people they do not trust the science behind vaccines. It’s so frustrating because not only have the politicians set us back but now these Drs who are hedging their bets are doing the same.
Dr. Battacharya, through his misinformed denial of the seriousness of COVID and the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, is in large part responsible for the loss of confidence in science and medicine in the general population.
THIS - Massive hypocrisy, wrapped in sanctimony. Likewise Prasad, Marty and Bobby. COVID was the best thing that ever happened to these "contrarian" whores for the rightwing misinformation machine.
We expect weasel-words from politicians, but not doctors. Shame on him!
Thank you. These politicos must go. Every single one of them!
Bhattacharya is another member of Secretary Kennedy's posse who will help drive down the health of our country. Kennedy and The Posse will be responsible for many deaths in the upcoming years; many more than ICE. It's hard to believe he continues on his eugenicist trail unchecked.
This is such an important “precision matters” post, because the harm here isn’t only in what was said, but in what the public reliably hears when an NIH director answers a vaccine–autism question without clearly closing the door.
You’re exactly right that public health communication isn’t graded like an oral exam. In a misinformation-saturated environment, a technically careful non-answer functions as a permission structure: it keeps “maybe” alive, and “maybe” is all the anti-vax ecosystem needs to amplify doubt. That’s why the sentence “vaccines do not cause autism” is not a slogan; it’s a boundary condition for trust.
I also appreciate your point that this isn’t about accusing Bhattacharya of endorsing a false claim. It’s about recognizing the asymmetry: the evidence base is overwhelmingly consistent on no causal link, while the social cost of hedging is immediate; lower uptake, more outbreaks, and more preventable harm, especially to infants and immunocompromised patients.
The meta-lesson is bigger than this one hearing: leaders of scientific institutions don’t just convey facts; they set the epistemic tone. When they treat debunked questions as still “open,” they unintentionally re-litigate settled science in the public square.
Thank you for naming the strategy and the stakes so clearly.
There is a petition: Demand Independent Inquiry & Immediate Release of Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/demand-independent-inquiry-immediate-release-of-dr-reiner-fuellmich#petition-main
Thank you, I’ve tried explaining this to family but now because of these foolish people they do not trust the science behind vaccines. It’s so frustrating because not only have the politicians set us back but now these Drs who are hedging their bets are doing the same.
... cluelessness is an artifact of privilege.
Joan C. Williams