An epidemic of fear is not easily vanquished by a virus of reason
According to science journalist Michael Specter, author of the new book Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet and Threatens Our Lives, the controversy surrounding vaccine safety has made lack of expertise a requirement when choosing members of prominent advisory panels on the issue. “It’s shocking,” Specter says. “We live in a country where it’s actually a detriment to be an expert about something.” When expertise is diminished to such an extent, irrationality and fear can run amok.
via wired.com
The development of vaccines is one of the greatest medical innovations in history, saving tens of millions of people that otherwise would become significantly ill or deformed or even die. The only reason that vaccine denialists can now prosper is because of vaccines' past success.
See also
www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/09/the-controversy.html
