The 2016 state legislation eliminating the personal-belief exemption for vaccines was a ‘major breakthrough,’ says Sonoma County Interim Health Officer Karen Smith.
Since then, the explosion of conspiracy theories enabled by the internet’s ability to broadly distribute misinformation has promoted these beliefs, Smith says. Anti-vaccine advocate Kennedy Jr. has two law degrees, including a master’s degree in environmental law, but has no educational background or training in health or nutrition. Despite his lack of credentials, he founded an anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense, and has authored books furthering the discredited theory linking vaccines to autism.
To combat potential myths and disinformation, Wu urges people to use credible sources to get their information. Such sources include the websites of all three North Bay health departments, as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smith notes, “I’ve been invited to debate vaccines many times. I don’t do it. “I would debate anything on fact, but you can’t debate belief. This antivax thing is a belief. It’s not a fact.” g
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46 NorthBaybiz
February 2025
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