Twenty eight years ago, 28th February 1998, something horrible happened—something which has cast a baleful shadow of disease and suffering over the last almost three decades. A scientific paper was published. The lead author has been thoroughly discredited (struck from the medical register, revealed to be a fraud) and the paper itself has been retracted. But because of this paper, today (for me at least) marks the birth of the modern anti-vaccine era.
Which is why, on February the 28th, I wear black.
If any of my friends are unfamiliar with this awful, tragic, grim story then may I recommend HBomberguy’s video “Vaccines and Autism: A Measured Response”. It’s detailed, accurate, gives credit where credit is due and is (and this is important in this time we live in) fucking funny. AND it has a “I ain’t got time to watch all that!” summary at the start…















