Learn The Risk

Last updated
Learn The Risk
Legal statusNon-profit
PurposeAnti-vaccination group
President
Tina Marie
Founder
Brandy Vaughan (deceased 2020)
Website https://learntherisk.org/

Learn The Risk is an American anti-vaccine group founded in 2015. It is known for its billboard campaigns asserting vaccines are responsible for a large number of deaths of young children. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Arguments against vaccination are contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Founder Brandy Vaughan died in December 2020; no replacement executive director has been named. Five and a half years before she died, she made a video stating that she was in fear for her life and that she was not suicidal. [11] The coroner report states she died of a blood clot. [12]

Mission

Learn The Risk was founded in 2015 by Brandy Vaughan, as a branch of an organization she also founded, the Council for Vaccine Safety. Vaughan led both groups as executive director. [13] She described herself as a former employee of pharmaceutical company Merck and an activist for natural health. [4] [14] [15]

The group is widely described as being anti-vaccination. [1] [14] [16]

With an annual budget of less than US$ 100,000 according to tax filings, Learn The Risk does not have the wide reach of larger anti-vaccination groups such as Informed Consent Action Network and Children's Health Defense. [16] The organization got some funding out of the Amazon Prime program, which allowed consumers to donate a small portion of their purchase to the charity of their choice. The program helped fund several similar groups until Amazon moved to exclude anti-vaccine activists from the program, in the Spring of 2019. [16] [17]

Billboard campaigns

In the Fall of 2018, the organization bought space on more than 30 billboards in West Virginia, New York, Missouri and other states, provoking concerns from health professionals that parents may delay or disregard vaccinations for their children. The message used on the billboards claimed vaccines kill children, portraying specific cases even though there was no evidence supporting the claims.

A similar billboard campaign in the Summer of 2018 in Perth, Australia, met with resistance from health professionals and calls for its removal. [14]

The World Health Organization has identified vaccine hesitancy as one of 2019's ten global health threats to watch. [18] Although a small fraction of vaccine doses provoke serious adverse reactions, health professionals agree the benefits of being protected against a wide range of infectious diseases far outweigh the risks. Among other public health agencies, the Public Health Agency of Canada stated that the science on vaccines is unequivocal, but laments the actions of "a small but vocal anti-vaccination community that spreads false information. They use powerful emotional images and misinformation with their message. This creates confusion and fear for parents who are trying to make the best decisions for the health and wellbeing of their children." [19] [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccination</span> Administration of a vaccine to protect against disease

Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop immunity from a disease. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. In stimulating the body's adaptive immunity, they help prevent sickness from an infectious disease. When a sufficiently large percentage of a population has been vaccinated, herd immunity results. Herd immunity protects those who may be immunocompromised and cannot get a vaccine because even a weakened version would harm them. The effectiveness of vaccination has been widely studied and verified. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infectious diseases; widespread immunity due to vaccination is largely responsible for the worldwide eradication of smallpox and the elimination of diseases such as polio and tetanus from much of the world. However, some diseases, such as measles outbreaks in America, have seen rising cases due to relatively low vaccination rates in the 2010s – attributed, in part, to vaccine hesitancy. According to the World Health Organization, vaccination prevents 3.5–5 million deaths per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine hesitancy</span> Reluctance or refusal to be vaccinated or have ones children vaccinated

Vaccine hesitancy is a delay in acceptance, or refusal, of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services and supporting evidence. The term covers refusals to vaccinate, delaying vaccines, accepting vaccines but remaining uncertain about their use, or using certain vaccines but not others. The scientific consensus that vaccines are generally safe and effective is overwhelming. Vaccine hesitancy often results in disease outbreaks and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, the World Health Organization characterizes vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten global health threats.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), founded under the name Dissatisfied Parents Together (DPT) in 1982, is an American 501(c)(3) organization that has been widely criticized as a leading source of fearmongering and misinformation about vaccines. While NVIC describes itself as the "oldest and largest consumer-led organization advocating for the institution of vaccine safety and informed consent protections", it promotes false and misleading information including the discredited claim that vaccines cause autism, and its campaigns portray vaccination as risky, encouraging people to consider "alternatives." In April 2020, the organization was identified as one of the greatest disseminators of COVID-19 misinformation on Facebook.

A vaccine adverse event (VAE), sometimes referred to as a vaccine injury, is an adverse event believed to have been caused by vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) knows VAEs as Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI).

Warnings About Vaccination Expectations NZ (WAVESnz), formerly the Immunisation Awareness Society (IAS), is a New Zealand anti-vaccination lobby group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters</span> Organization

The Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters (NRVS) is a vaccination advocacy group formed in 2013 by people who were concerned about low vaccination rates in the Northern Rivers region of the Australian state of New South Wales. Rachel Heap, one of the group's core administrators, has said the organization's primary goal is to spread the word that people shouldn't be afraid of vaccines, but instead, "you should be amazed at how extraordinary they are as a public health measure".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Wilyman</span> Australian anti-vaccination activist

Roslyn Judith "Judy" Wilyman is an Australian anti-vaccination activist who came to prominence following the controversial award of a humanities PhD titled "A critical analysis of the Australian government's rationale for its vaccination policy" by University of Wollongong. The thesis came under heavy criticism from multiple directions, including medical professionals, due to claims within the thesis, including advancing a conspiracy theory whereby the World Health Organization (WHO) and the pharmaceutical industry supposedly conspire to promote vaccinations in the absence of evidence of safety and efficacy. The awarding of the degree created questions about the standards being applied and whether or not the thesis supervisors and examiners had sufficient knowledge to oversee the research, and led to calls for the university to review the doctorate. A number of individuals and medical organisations – including academics and researchers from other parts of the University of Wollongong – spoke out against the findings of the thesis, emphasising the need for vaccinations in order to prevent serious disease; and the University of Wollongong was criticised for a perceived lack of transparency in their doctoral process and an alleged failure to uphold standards of scholarship.

Texans for Vaccine Choice (TFVC) is an anti-vaccine Facebook group turned political action committee in Texas which advocates for personal belief exemptions to vaccination requirements, based on "a collection of fake news, half- truths, and conspiracy theories". Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced former medical researcher and originator of the MMR autism hoax, and infectious disease specialist Peter Hotez, both describe TFVC's lobbying as very effective, with the rate of Texas students opting out of at least one vaccine at least doubling in around five years and over 50,000 Texas schoolchildren not being vaccinated.

Children's Health Defense (CHD) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit activist group mainly known for anti-vaccine disinformation, and which has been called one of the main sources of misinformation on vaccines. Founded under the name World Mercury Project in 2007, it is chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The group has been campaigning against various public health programs, such as vaccination and fluoridation of drinking water. The group has been contributing to vaccine hesitancy in the United States, encouraging citizens and legislators to support anti-vaccine regulations and legislation. Arguments against vaccination are contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Its $15-million budget is funded through donations from individuals and affiliate marketing revenues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine Choice Canada</span> Canadian anti-vaccination group

Vaccine Choice Canada (VCC) is Canada's main anti-vaccination group. It was founded in the 1980s under the name Vaccination Risk Awareness Network (VRAN) and adopted its current name in 2014. The group has been contributing to vaccine hesitancy in Canada, encouraging citizens to forgo immunization and legislators to support anti-vaccine regulations and legislation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Bigtree</span> American television producer and anti-vaccination activist

Del Matthew Bigtree is an American television and film producer who is the CEO of the anti-vaccination group Informed Consent Action Network. He produced the film Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, based on the discredited opinions of Andrew Wakefield and alleges an unsubstantiated connection between vaccines and autism.

The Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) is one of the main anti-vaccination groups in the United States. Founded in 2016 by Del Bigtree, it spreads misinformation about the risks of vaccines and contributes to vaccine hesitancy, which has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten global health threats of 2019. Arguments against vaccination are contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Samoa measles outbreak</span> Measles epidemic in Samoa in late 2019

The 2019 Samoa measles outbreak began in September 2019. As of 6 January 2020, there were over 5,700 cases of measles and 83 deaths, out of a Samoan population of 200,874. Over three per cent of the population were infected. The cause of the outbreak was attributed to decreased vaccination rates, from 74% in 2017 to 31–34% in 2018, even though nearby islands had rates near 99%.

Taylor Winterstein is an Australian-Samoan online influencer and conspiracy theorist best known for her public anti-vaccination stance. Winterstein has been heavily criticised in several South Pacific, and Australasian countries for her anti-vaccination rhetoric and her seminars have been called "irresponsible" by the Australian Medical Association and a "public health threat" by the Samoan Ministry of Health. She claims she has not encouraged non-vaccination, rather, "informed consent" and "freedom of choice".

The Stop Mandatory Vaccination website and associated Facebook group are some of the major hubs of the American anti-vaccination movement. It was established by anti-vaccination activist Larry Cook in 2015.

Freedom Angels Foundation is an anti-vaccination group in California. Initially constituted in an attempt to counter the state's new vaccination laws in 2019, the group is playing a major role in protests against the public measures enacted in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, joining far-right groups in the protests against lockdowns and the defeat of Donald Trump in 2020.

Nicola Mary Turner is a New Zealand public health advocate who is a Professor at the University of Auckland and Medical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, an organisation that advises the New Zealand medical profession and the New Zealand Government. She has contributed to advisory committees for the New Zealand Ministry of Health, is a spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group and works in general practice. Much of her research and outreach has focused on improving immunisation coverage and closing equity gaps for the national schedule vaccine delivery in New Zealand and she has commented publicly on these issues during COVID-19 in New Zealand.

Misinformation related to immunization and the use of vaccines circulates in mass media and social media in spite of the fact that there is no serious hesitancy or debate within mainstream medical and scientific circles about the benefits of vaccination. Unsubstantiated safety concerns related to vaccines are often presented on the internet as being scientific information. A large proportion of internet sources on the topic are mostly inaccurate which can lead people searching for information to form misconceptions relating to vaccines.

Medical Racism: The New Apartheid is a 2021 video production that promotes conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines. Distributed by the anti-vaccination group Children's Health Defense, it alleges the COVID-19 vaccination efforts are a cover to conduct experiments on the African American and Latin communities. Public health communication experts say the video presents past injustices committed against African Americans in order to make debunked anti-vaccination claims more believable.

References

  1. 1 2 Zadrozny, Brandy; Nadi, Aliza (2019-09-24). "How anti-vaxxers target grieving moms and turn them into crusaders against vaccines". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  2. ↑ Mosbergen, Dominique (2018-10-30). "Billboards Claiming Vaccines 'Kill' Children Cropping Up Across The Country". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  3. ↑ Mulder, James T. (2019-01-29). "Anti-vaccine billboard in Syracuse featuring former fighter's dead son sparks criticism". Syracuse.com. Archived from the original on 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  4. 1 2 Marso, Andy (2018-06-26). "Missouri anti-vaccine billboard with former MMA fighter's dead son is quickly defaced". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  5. ↑ Moncrease, Brittani (2018-10-05). "Anti-vaccination billboard stirs controversy". Spectrum News. Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  6. ↑ Nash, Bishop (2018-10-28). "Anti-vaccine billboard goes up in Huntington". Herald Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  7. ↑ "Communicating science-based messages on vaccines". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 95 (10): 670–71. October 2017. doi:10.2471/BLT.17.021017. PMC   5689193 . PMID   29147039.
  8. ↑ "Why do some people oppose vaccination?". Vox. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  9. ↑ Ceccarelli L. "Defending science: How the art of rhetoric can help". The Conversation. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  10. ↑ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Vaccines.gov". Vaccines.gov. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  11. ↑ Washington, District of Columbia 1800 I. Street NW; Dc 20006. "PolitiFact - Video of anti-vaccine activist was taken years before her death from natural causes". @politifact. Retrieved 2023-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Santa Barbara Coroner Concludes Anti-Vaxxer Brandy Vaughan Died of Natural Causes". 19 February 2021.
  13. ↑ Elloian, Mary Kay (2015-10-13). "Former Merck Employee Tells All – Starts a Non-Profit: Council for Vaccine Safety!". The Legal Edition. Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  14. 1 2 3 Cathy, O'Leary (2018-06-14). "WA Govt calls for Perth anti-vax billboard to be pulled down after doctors complain". The West Australian. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  15. ↑ Vaughan, Brandy (2016-09-22). "Join Brandy Vaughan of LearnTheRisk.org for Important and Free Talk 'Is Your Health For $ale?' in San Francisco". Send2Press. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  16. 1 2 3 Wong, Julia Carrie (2019-03-05). "Revealed: AmazonSmile helps fund anti-vaccine groups". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  17. ↑ Sarlin, Jon (2019-03-01). "Anti-vaccine movies disappear from Amazon after CNN Business report". CNN. Archived from the original on 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  18. ↑ "Ten threats to global health in 2019". World Health organization. Archived from the original on March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  19. ↑ Weeks, Carly (February 26, 2019). "Anti-vaccine group launches billboard campaign in Toronto and surrounding area". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  20. ↑ McQuigge, Michelle (February 27, 2019). "Anti-vaccine campaign 'very concerning,' says Ontario's health minister". Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  21. ↑ Abbott, Ellen (2019-12-12). "Anti-vaccine billboard on I-690 draws criticism from infectious disease expert". WRVO. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
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