Big Picture Science – Skeptic Check: The Me in Measles
Wondering whether to vaccinate your children? The decision can feel like a shot in the dark if you don’t know how to evaluate risk. Find out why all of us succumb to the reasoning pitfalls of cognitive and omission bias, whether we’re saying no to vaccines or getting a tan on the beach.
Plus, an infectious disease expert on why it may take a dangerous resurgence of preventable diseases – measles, whooping cough, polio – to remind us that vaccines save lives.
Also, a quaint but real vaccine fear: that the 18th century smallpox vaccine, made from cowpox, could turn you into a cow!
It’s our monthly look at critical thinking … but don’t take our word for it!
Listen to individual segments here:
Part 1: Paul Offit / Vaccine Facts and Fears
Part 2: Neil deGrasse Tyson / Evaluating Risk
Part 3: Adam Korbitz / Risk Assessment
Part 4: Andrew Maynard / Accurate Data
