UPDATE to “Informing the public: what is the responsibility of scientists and doctors?”

 Earlier this month I posted about the gap between scientists and the general public. The post centered on the current vaccine “controversy” though there shouldn’t really be any controversy at all. And that was the question posed: as nearly all scientists and doctors agree that the vaccine is safe, what should and can we do to communicate this information to the general public?

Well, since that post I have learned of one school that is offering a free, online course on vaccination. The course, called “Vaccines” is offered through the School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania and will cover such topics as the science of how vaccines are made and the actual and perceived risks of vaccination. This is a great idea though the cynical side of me thinks those who need the information in the class the most will not give it a chance, especially as the “recommended” reading is “Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All and Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases” authored by the instructor of the class.

Still, I can’t criticize Dr. Paul Offit too much, especially since it is clear he is trying to defeat these preventable diseases.

If anyone tries to sign up/takes the class (which is 2 hours/week for I don't know how long) please let me know how it goes.