The Greater Good

Gr 9 Up—The title of this documentary about vaccinations could be interpreted as ironic. Its most prominent message is that individuals, especially children, are being sacrificed for the greater good of society. Teenager Gabi Swank enthusiastically agreed to be vaccinated after viewing commercials that were part of the pharmaceutical company Merck's $100 million campaign for the Gardasil vaccine. Immediately afterward, she became ill. She now no longer attends school regularly, and when she does, she uses a wheelchair. The King family's young son slipped into severe autism after a routine vaccination, and the Christners' five-month-old baby stopped breathing and died following another one. Doctors on both sides of the issue speak about the safety, or the lack thereof, of vaccines. Besides doctors, Barbara Loe Fisher, president and cofounder of the National Vaccination Information Center, testifies that some of the ingredients in vaccines are toxic, such as aluminum and mercury. The advocates state that they are not anti-vaccination and that they promote informed decisions. The program brings up the issue of hidden ingredients in vaccines, and it also makes a point that one size does not fit all; certain individuals and families are more susceptible than others to negative results. This program stimulates questions and will prompt viewers to ponder the close relationship among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and pharmaceutical companies. With other resources, this program could be a valuable asset to enhance classroom debate.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA