Misinformation is rife': Readers on why parents avoid the measles jab

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"Charlotte Cripps' account of delaying her children's MMR vaccinations sparked a wide-ranging response from Independent readers. Many sympathised with her story and praised her bravery in sharing it, noting that even well-educated parents can be influenced by online misinformation and by past controversies, such as those sparked by Andrew Wakefield, the former British doctor who promoted the widely discredited claim that the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism and bowel disease."

Coverage spans reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, including investigations into political PAC financing and a documentary spotlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights. Appeals for funding emphasize keeping journalists on the ground and maintaining free access to reporting rather than paywalls, funded by donations from those able to contribute. A personal account of delaying children's MMR vaccinations prompted sympathy and praise for candor while highlighting that well-educated parents can be influenced by online misinformation and past controversies like Andrew Wakefield's discredited claims. Readers shared stories of measles, rubella, polio, and meningitis showing lifelong consequences, and commenters blamed social media, wellness influencers, and political actors for spreading misinformation.

Read at www.independent.co.uk