Live data from Hacker News

Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

theguardian.com

11–20 of 35 posts

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#11
post #3

Perhaps some lawyers here can opine: Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers ? Call me paranoid, but lately I've been thinking about getting the MMR as an adult who is in mid 40s - and I'm pissed. So, I can't even imagine what someone who is directly impacted might be feeling.

Aren't you only affected by the measles outbreak if you're an anti-vax in the first place... ?

I don't think so, since people could have received the vaccine years ago, and even those who received vaccine recently are not 100% effective.

Also, the anti-vaxxer who is affected can argue they were misled or misinformed, or if they are children of anti-vaxxers, not anti-vaxxer themselves. Many possibilities..

Disclaimer: IMNAL.

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#12
post #3

Perhaps some lawyers here can opine: Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers ? Call me paranoid, but lately I've been thinking about getting the MMR as an adult who is in mid 40s - and I'm pissed. So, I can't even imagine what someone who is directly impacted might be feeling.

Aren't you only affected by the measles outbreak if you're an anti-vax in the first place... ?

> Aren't you only affected by the measles outbreak if you're an anti-vax in the first place... ?

No.

(1) There are people that cannot vaccinate for a variety of medical reasons; and

(2) Real vaccines are less than 100% effective (I think current measles vaccine is 93% after the first dose, 97% after both), but approximate 100% effectiveness when you have sufficient immunized population because you have a combination of direct immunity and herd immunity, the latter of which is just “you are less likely to get exposed because the people you come in contact with are largely immune.”

Anti-vaxxers jeopardise everyone.

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#14
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't you only affected by the measles outbreak if you're an anti-vax in the first place... ?

There are other circumstances in which you might not have had the vaccination, such as when undergoing chemotherapy. In those cases, herd immunity would provide protection for those who can't be get the vaccination themselves.

In chemotherapy you probably would have had the vaccination, but the vaccination works by training your own immune system against it, and chemo wipes your immune system out.

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#15
post #3

Perhaps some lawyers here can opine: Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers ? Call me paranoid, but lately I've been thinking about getting the MMR as an adult who is in mid 40s - and I'm pissed. So, I can't even imagine what someone who is directly impacted might be feeling.

> Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers?

Against anti-vaxxers as a group? Doubtful. Against the patient zero who got you sick? Maybe. Against those distributing literature? Particularly if they're making money from the enterprise? Probably the best bet.

(Nitpick: anyone can sue anyone for anything. If it's really stupid, it will get thrown out. If it has legal merit, it should win. Asking "is it possible for X to sue Y" is therefore better framed as "would X be likely to win a case against Y".)

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#16
post #5

a perfect opportunity to start a conversation with her coming-of-age son about critical thinking and how to make informed decisions. ignorant ideas and opinions are everywhere. the best defense is being capable of logical reasoning. it's also important that we are exposed and open to ideas that challenge our beliefs. wisdom begins in doubt.

By that logic, no propaganda could ever have any negative impact. We should therefore put fliers with all sorts of maybe just random text, or even a sampling of the most vile hate speech we can find into every book sold. Then, we sit back and watch the world improve. Because a thousand monkeys with typewriters may not be Shakespeare, but they are a learning opportunity.

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#19
post #3

Perhaps some lawyers here can opine: Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers ? Call me paranoid, but lately I've been thinking about getting the MMR as an adult who is in mid 40s - and I'm pissed. So, I can't even imagine what someone who is directly impacted might be feeling.

It's possible to file a lawsuit on any pretext, but to win requires an argument that an actual law was broken, and there if no general legal duty to vaccinate; if you can trace a particular out real back to someone who, say, sought and received a fraudulently-given medical waiver of a public schol vaccination mandate that had only a medical exemption, and the transmission was in a context where the school mandate was relevant, you might have a case of harms stemming from an unlawful act where there might be a viable theory of recovery. But, generally, lawsuits depend on rather than substitute for appropriate laws.

Re: Anti-vaxxer leaflet found inserted in book sold by Amazon

#20
post #3

Perhaps some lawyers here can opine: Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers ? Call me paranoid, but lately I've been thinking about getting the MMR as an adult who is in mid 40s - and I'm pissed. So, I can't even imagine what someone who is directly impacted might be feeling.

> Is it not possible for some of those affected by the recent measles outbreak, and others adversely impacted, to file a class action against the anti-vaxxers? Against anti-vaxxers as a group? Doubtful. Against the patient zero who got you sick? Maybe. Against those distributing literature? Particularly if they're making money from the enterprise? Probably the best bet. (Nitpick: anyone can sue anyone for anything. I…

I think there are some organisations and individuals who are kinda like flag bearers.
Post reply on HN