The internet shifted to overdrive this week after a group of anti-vaxxers asked the media to stop referring to them as anti-vaxxers —even though that’s literally what they are.
The anti-vaxxer group called —get this— ‘Crazymothers’ posted the request to their Twitter and Instagram pages and people across social media were happy to respond.
“Dear Media,” the open letter read. “Please retire the use of the term ‘Anti-vaxxer.’ It is derogatory, inflammatory, and marginalizes both women and their experiences. It is dismissively simplistic, highly offensive and largely false. We politely request that you refer to us as the Vaccine Risk Aware.”
Social media users responding to the group were quick to point out that if they were really aware of the risk of any adverse effects of vaccines, which are mainly minor, extremely rare and do not include autism. Especially when you weigh it up against the risks associated with not getting your child vaccinated, which include your child getting a potentially deadly disease and risking the health of others around them.
Last year alone, an outbreak of measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo saw 233,337 new cases of measles and 4,723, with children under the age of five accounting for almost 90 percent of those deaths.
So when ‘Crazymothers’ asked people to call them “risk aware”, people had quite a few suggestions of their own.
Check some of the responses below.
Dear Media,
Please retire the use of the term “Anti-vaxxer.” It is derogatory, inflammatory, and marginalizes both women and their experiences. It is dismissivemy simplistic, highly offensive and largely false. We politely request that you refer to us as the Vaccine Risk Aware. pic.twitter.com/WtAyFOhLuv— Crazymothers (@Crazymothers1) December 1, 2019
Immunologist here.
The answer is: NO
You are not "Vaccine Risk Aware", you are "Dangerously uninformed and insisting that public health experts indulge your fantasies"
If you don't want Anti-vax, the only thing left is Self-Indulgent And Irresponsible Crazyperson
Pick one.
— Dr. Jules (@jaxcarys) December 3, 2019
Hate-Driven Anti-Science Regressives takes longer to say, but ok
— Sam Sykes (@SamSykesSwears) December 3, 2019
Medically Illiterate Murderclowns?
Child Killers?
(Taking their concerns seriously … anti-autism-bigots.) https://t.co/x8zHcCrgRd
— Charlie Stross (@cstross) December 3, 2019
so it´s "pro-epidemicers" then?
— Valon Vau (@Walon_Vau_) December 6, 2019
By definition, you are not vaccine risk aware. You are misguided at best, and actively child endangering at worst. If it offends you, tough – folks like you actively contributing to a massive rise in child deaths offends me. https://t.co/cxj8Van2VM
— Doktor Mayhem wears a mask (@metltek) December 4, 2019
As a crazy person who is not an anti-vaxxer, I object to this.
— dracarys (@RainbowDracarys) December 3, 2019
Risks: your arm is sore for a day.
Benefits: you won’t get smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chicken pox, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A, influenza, or rotavirus. I think a sore arm is worth it.— EB Engineer (@ejbaitch) December 4, 2019
Yes please treat our group “Crazy insane crazy mothers, crazy people who are crazy” with the dignity and respect we deserve.
— Brendel (@Brendelbored) December 3, 2019
5 children died last night of measles. 30 more have died over the last month. Anti-vaxxers convinced the Samoan government to halt their vaccination programme. You are child killers.
— Pāpango (@papango) December 3, 2019
Please choose:
— someDude (@SomeDudemeister) December 4, 2019
….but you're not "aware" of anything. You're afraid of something you haven't taken the time to learn anything about and literally spread fear because you *lack* awareness.
— Mr. Piccolo (@Piccolo113) December 5, 2019
How about Anti Science Pro Plague Fuckwits Who Should Be Incarcerated For Public Endangerment? I'll even add a Miss or a Sir to the beginning of that.
— Tracy Nichols ✡ 🏳️🌈🐱💗💛💙 (@LtlAbs) December 6, 2019
