Book Recommendation: The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science – A Scientist’s Warning by Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
I’ve been thinking a lot about the current state of things, especially why the general public seems to be less inclined to believe scientists and medical doctors; unqualified individuals in key positions in government where they can do untold damage; and individuals not seeming to care that the scientific enterprise in the US is in jeopardy. I often put this down to the snowballing impact from Andrew Wakefield’s now retracted Lancet publication from 1998 where he claimed that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was somehow linked to autism. Slowly but surely the anti-vaccine machine gained speed, propelled by celebrities who spread the message insidiously. At the time of writing there is a measles outbreak in the US, which while it began in Texas has spread to over 800 cases and many states. Worryingly the advice provided by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services has led to children being treated with Vitamin A which has led to liver damage, and can lead to seizures among other side effects. Measles was eliminated from the US in 2000, which meant the absence of the continuous spread of the disease was greater than 12 months. However, due to pockets of unvaccinated individuals across the country it is having a resurgence. This is incredibly dangerous, most people think that it is merely a disease where you develop spots and a fever, however it can develop into serious and life-threatening complications. But how did we get here? Is it solely because the anti-vaccine message has also diminished the general populations belief in science and medicine? Luckily, I bought Dr. Hotez’s book a while ago, and decided it was time it stopped languishing on my shelf and I actually read it! (I have a considerable to be read pile, but who doesn’t?!)
The timing also segued well because in the past few months I have also listened to a few podcasts where I learned a few historical stories which really demonstrate the dangers of measles.
I learned from the Cautionary Tales podcast (episode “The Fan Who Infected a Movie Star” S2 E11) about the actress Gene Tierney, who contracted measles while pregnant from a fan who violated quarantine to meet her in 1943. While measles can be a dangerous disease in children, it is especially dangerous to pregnant women as the fetus is at a high risk of developing Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) which can leave the fetus stillborn or with a variety of malformations and health issues. When Gene gave birth to her little girl Daria, she had CRS which led to cataracts, deafness and developmental delay. This not only affected her daughter Daria but had profound effects on the rest of Gene’s life. When Daria was four, upon the recommendations of her doctors, she was institutionalized where she stayed until she died at age 66. Gene’s marriage broke down and she went to three mental health clinics, including undergoing 32 rounds of electroconvulsive therapy. It was her memoir which let the world know that through the thoughtless actions of a fan, who should have been quarantined at a measles infected marine base, that her daughter’s gestation ended with CRS and multiple life changing disabilities, and Gene’s mental health struggles.
I was reminded by the Who Did What Now? podcast (episode “Roald Dahl – Soldier, Writer, Cheater, Spy, E81) about the author Roald Dahl’s daughter Olivia who sadly died from measles encephalitis in 1962. He had thought she was on the road to recovery however after noticing her difficulty making animals out of pipe-cleaners, she was unconscious within an hour and dead in twelve. In those days a reliable measles vaccine wasn’t available but in 1988 he wrote an impassioned letter urging parents to vaccinate their children. As my son is currently reading the BFG which is dedicated to Olivia’s memory, listening to this episode impacted me more than I expected. I encourage you to read his letter, the link is included within the references below.
Every so often I see memes or links to scare mongering misinformation regarding the efficacy and safety of vaccines, and I think we can all agree that it became worse during the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, reading a book by a medical doctor and researcher who has spent his career researching and developing vaccines seems pertinent. I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading, but even though it was published in 2023 it is incredibly (and worryingly) prescient. He shares the beginning of the anti-vaccine, or vaccine hesitancy movement and how it became linked with far-right organizations which amplified its message. This then led to key members of congress taking up the mantle and pushing medical and health freedom. While I was unfamiliar with medical and health freedom it has 3 tenets that I have heard many times, therefore I am sure you have too.
1. Preventing school vaccine exemptions constitutes unwarranted government intrusion into the health freedom and medical privacy of families. Vaccine mandates are un-American. Vaccine choice is a necessary and essential core American value.
2. There is an unholy alliance between the pharmaceutical industry and state or federal governments, in some cases fueled by secretive payments or backroom deals.
3. Health freedom extols the benefits of “natural immunity” to infections, which in some cases could be bolstered by nutritional supplements. In contrast, vaccines are mostly unnatural and toxic.
Sound familiar? I am sure you have also probably seen versions of these either on social media or certain news stations. He continues to explain that through a 3-pronged attack; social media, members of congress and government, and conservative news outlets that anti-science sentiment is propagated. Historically science, and therefore scientists have remained apolitical, believing that separation of science and politics is important for the general public to remain trusting in research. However, the anti-science movement is certainly political, with republicans pushing its agenda. It is therefore time for science and scientists to take a different approach. Dr. Hotez writes that the antidote to all the misinformation and anti-science or anti-vaccine rhetoric is for more scientists and medical doctors to perform more, and better, science communication and public engagement. Some are already doing so but they are drowned out by the alternate viewpoint. Who do you follow? Here are a few of the ones I follow on Instagram: dr_Noc, rubin_allergy, drterrysimpsonmd, drjessicaknurick, drelisabethpotter, dr.tommymartin, drjengunter and vickichanmd. If you follow others, please leave their information in the comment section so that others can also learn from them.
The only issue with scientists and medical doctors performing more science communication is that institutions may not be supportive of their efforts, especially if they are concerned with risk mitigation. Essentially, should they take to social media that they do it at their own risk as anti-science individuals are known to contact institutions and complain about pro-science content. Indeed, prominent scientists have received death threats due to their pro-vaccine stance which is terrifying and can deter individuals from speaking up. Therefore, systems should be put in place to encourage individuals’ pro-science content and also to protect them should actions be taken against them.
He laments a few times that due to individuals choosing not to become vaccinated against COVID-19 that 200,000 people died unnecessarily and that it is typically in conservative areas. He is clear that becoming vaccinated shouldn’t be seen as a political stance because it is an important preventative against becoming ill and potentially dying. Surely everyone, regardless of how they vote, can appreciate the wisdom of that?
He draws parallels with what has happened in the USSR and Germany as authoritarian regimes came into power. Specifically attacks on scientists (and later universities) to undercut the general populations belief in their work, credentials, and impetus for their work. I was horrified to learn of the story of Nikolai Vavilov, an internationally regarded expert in Mendelian genetics who had utilized his knowledge to improve cereal crop yields. He served as the director of the Lenin All Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences which also served as the scientific wing of the Soviet Commissariat of Agriculture. Even Vavilov’s credentials and international reputation wasn’t enough to save him from being undercut by Trofim Lysenko who had no doctoral degree or rigorous formal training. He suggested a concept called vernalization which is considered a form of Lamarckian theories. Lysenko gained favor with Stalin, eventually leading to Vavilov’s incarceration and replacing him as the director of the Lenin Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Through Lysenko’s endeavors he caused crop failures which led to many Soviet Russian deaths. Ironically, Vavilov who had dedicated his life to increasing crop yields died in prison from malnutrition.
Dr. Hotez doesn’t only focus on vaccine research and the push back it has received since Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 Lancet paper. He also covers the research and response to climate change and AIDS/HIV by the various administrations, politicians and government officials. How those responses may have fed into the anti-science movements and how the current crop of politicians is utilizing the ground work that those before them laid in order to further diminish the general publics faith in science and medicine. What is truly scary are the stories and examples shown where he (and others) have received death threats against them and their families. As a general rule scientists and health care workers aren’t working to become rich, they do it because they have an altruistic desire to help others. Also, with a highly theoretical desire to work on a challenging problem and chip away at the answer. Being likened to Nazi’s and receiving threats is a horrible reward for being committed to helping fellow humans live a healthier life (it is especially ironic and terrible for Dr. Hotez who is Jewish). Seeing how far the anti-science contingent is willing to go in order to bully those with scientifically valid research suggests some terrible times ahead if something isn’t done to address it now.
Dr. Hotez astutely mentions that during the rise of authoritarian regimes prominent scientists are viewed as enemies of the state. Also, that they and other prominent intellectuals are replaced at national academies or universities with second-rate talents who had proved their worth by demonstrating state loyalty. This also happens throughout government. Although this was written 2 years ago, it is worrying that this is happening to current government entities, especially concerning are those under the Department of Health and Human Services.
I would encourage everyone who is concerned about the current environment that scientists and medical doctors are working in to read this book. Some of it is horrifying and I can only hope we can get things back on track. The book shows us why the statement “avoid it like the plague” may not be valid anymore as due to the weaponization of health information and communication, individuals appear to believe in pseudoscience and not scientific and medical experts who perform careful, peer reviewed research for the betterment of the human race.
Further Reading Recommendations
FDA and Food Safety by Inspections - The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum
Vaccines and Autism – The Doctor Who Fooled The World by Brian Deer
Pandemics – The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
Similarities between Humans and Animal Health – Zoobiquity by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers
References
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford podcast episode “The Fan Who Infected a Movie Star” S2 E11, 05/06/2021
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html
Confronting Anti-science: A Conversation with Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. by the American Society for Microbiology https://youtu.be/rkXiYAn22k8
https://fs.blog/roald-dahl-letter-daughter/
https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/a-cautionary-tale-on-german-measles
https://news.uchicago.edu/big-brains-podcast-why-measles-resurging-and-rise-vaccine-hesitancy
The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science, A Scientist’s Warning by Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Who Did What Now? With Katie Charlwood podcast episode “Roald Dahl – Soldier, Writer, Cheater, Spy, E81, 09/25/2023
