Beck, Limbaugh fomenting fear about H1N1 vaccine

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/print/research/200910070043

October 07, 2009 10:25 pm ET

SUMMARY: In recent days, both Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have suggested that the H1N1 flu vaccine may be unsafe and questioned the Obama administration's recommendation that Americans get vaccinated, with Limbaugh asserting that "{y}ou'll be healthier" if you don't believe what the government says and Beck suggesting that the vaccine may be "deadly." However, health experts have repeatedly stated that the vaccine is a safe and necessary tool to combat the virus, and that, in CDC chief Thomas Frieden's words, "This flu vaccine is made as flu vaccine is made each year, by the same companies, in the same production facilities, with the same procedures, with the same safety safeguards" and "hat enables us to have a high degree of confidence in the safety of the vaccine."

Beck, Limbaugh raise questions about vaccine that experts say is safe and necessary

Beck: Vaccine may turn out to be "deadly." On the September 30 edition of his radio show, Beck said: "I am not willing to go on the air with anything because one thing that you get wrong on this and it -- it can lead to a lot of death one way or another, you know? If you say, 'Don't take the swine flu vaccination,' and then it turns out that the swine flu this particular wave is virulent and the vaccination would have helped, well then, you know, what role did I play in that? The opposite is true; I say, 'Everybody take the vaccination,' and that turns out to be deadly, what role did I play in that? I'm just not willing to do that." {The Glenn Beck Program, 9/30/09}

Beck: "I'd do the exact opposite of what the Homeland Security says." During the same show, Beck said: "If somebody had the swine flu right now, I would have them cough on me. I'd do the exact opposite of what the Homeland Security says." When his producer responded, "But this is what I think. You're coming from such a skeptic viewpoint there. You're saying, you'd do the exact opposite of what Homeland Security tells you to do," Beck replied, "Only because I believe in -- in -- you know, I think this thing is going to mutate. It hasn't mutated yet. So I'd rather have it now, just like in 1916. Those who got the flu in 1916 were the ones that survived 1918. So I'd rather have it now. I mean, here's my vaccination. Hey, everybody, it's a swine flu chicken pox party. Seriously." {The Glenn Beck Program, 9/30/09}

Beck: "You don't know if this is gonna cause neurological damage like it did in the 1970s." Beck also said on the radio: "Are you taking the shot based on what you know now, are you taking the shot, and are you giving that shot to your kids? You don't know if this is gonna cause neurological damage like it did in the 1970s. You don't know if it's going to make things worse or if it's going to make things better. You just have to make the decision today." {The Glenn Beck Program, 9/30/09}

Limbaugh: "You'll be healthier" if you don't listen to the government. Limbaugh stated on his nationally syndicated radio program, "I'm not seeing these mass deaths from the swine flu. ... All I see is a bunch of typical government panic and hype." He added, "Who put the notion that you gotta have this shot, or this nasal spray -- whatever the hell the vaccine is -- whoever the hell put in your head the notion that you gotta do it? Government did. The Obama government, to be specific. It is one of my fervent objectives and goals ... to convince as many people as possible that the damn government is not God, and nobody in it even comes close to being as competent as you are to run your life. And yet, 'Oh my God, the government report says ...' The next time you hear 'The government says...' don't believe it. You'll be healthier, trust me." {The Rush Limbaugh Show, 10/7/09}

[phantom power]

1. OK, I can't resist a round of What If A Democrat Had Said That!

What if a democrat had said "I'd do the exact opposite of what HomeSec says!" Back when BushCo was in charge of HomeSec, especially.

[Warpy]

2. Shitbags who trust other shitbags instead of listening to people

who spend their entire lives in a field of study get exactly what they deserve.

If they're lucky, it'll just be 3 weeks or so of being miserable.

[gratuitous]

3. Is this a concern?

I'm all in favor of the nitwits who let Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck make their medical decisions for them decline to get flu shots. That will make more vaccine available for other, smarter people. And while it is sadly inevitable that some folks who don't get vaccinated will die from either H1N1 or the seasonal flu, people who let entertainers make their medical decisions seem to be a self-selecting group. Unfortunate, but if I had to choose . . .

[chelsea0011]

4. Now, exactlyu what info are they privy to to know tha vaccine is unsafe?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. And Bill Maher.

The guy who made Religulous has gone all woo woo over vaccines.

[kestrel91316]

6. It's fine with me if RWers choose to increase their risk of dying of preventable

infectious disease.

My only gripe is that they would be Typhoid Marys, spreading the virus to those who perhaps wanted the vaccine but couldn't have it for medical reasons.

[get the red out]

7. I worry it won't even be an option in RW areas

A friend who lives in a rural, extreme-right area told me the other night that her Doctor told her he had no plans to even order the vaccine, she did not say why. It would be completely disgraceful if medical people in RW areas refused to even have the vaccine available because of this kind of garbage.

If a lot of people are harmed because of this they can blame it on the Democrats. Sickening.

[gkhouston]

10. It would still be available at places like Walgreens, I'll bet. They tend to have

inventory even before physicians do.

[Window]

8. Good. Maybe they will all contract it and ...

n/t

[Leftist Agitator]

9. Excellent news!

The more rightists idiots who get H1N1, the more that will die. More dead rightists is a good thing.

I NEVER thought I'd say this, but thank you Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck!

[TomCADem]

11. Amazing and Sad - Pundits Telling People To Avoid Vaccinations

How backward can you get?

[andym]

12. We're lucky that H1N1 is as not as virulent as it might have been

But should it mutate to become more virulent, Limbaugh will probably be first in line for his shot.

[Okie4Obama]

13. More vaccine for me!

Thanks guys!