"[T]imely and important...It is critical that we understand vaccine hesitancy, if we want to protect our children's future." Cailin O'Connor, Prof. Philosophy of Science, UC-Irvine

VIRULENT: THE VACCINE WAR explores the highly contentious, emotionally fraught firestorm surrounding vaccines, charting the collision between scientists and charlatans, truth and lies.

Public health experts' worries that the coronavirus vaccine could create fear of all vaccines appear to have been borne out by the resurgence of previously eradicated childhood diseases including measles and pertussis. Doctors admit that they have not learned how to effectively communicate science to their patients, leaving them susceptible to the influence of expertly manipulated and increasing extreme messaging on social media platforms. In post-pandemic America, the vaccine controversy continues to cut across political, cultural, racial and socio-economic lines, engulfing doctors and patients as well as conspiracy theorists, celebrities, influencers, and opportunists looking to cash in. The film also takes a close look at the ways in which minorities are targeted by anti-vaccine misinformation.

Taking us deep into these opposing worlds are Dr. Paul Offit, one of the world's preeminent virologists; Dr. Peter Salk, Jonas Salk's physician son; Arthur Caplan, PhD, founder of NYU's Division of Bioethics; New York Times columnist Kevin Roose, who writes about how bad science spreads online; NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny, who has exposed how anti-vaxxers target grieving parents and has herself become a target; and the voices of many former vaccine skeptics, including those who lost children to vaccine-preventable illnesses.

VIRULENT is an invitation to think again, exposing the myths and laying bare the facts about vaccine science, its history and what it will take to eradicate the world's most deadly diseases.



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2024     Copyright Date: 2024
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-22-5

Reviews "Virulent: The Vaccine War shows us what the modern anti-vaccine movement looks like and pushes back with stories of its own...People need to see it." Jonathan Jarry, McGill Office for Science and Society "Carnegie Science Center was honored to feature the premiere of Virulent: The Vaccine War...There couldn't have been a better fit for our aspirations to serve as a town square for community dialogue on scientific topics and to showcase regional science and technology advances." Jason C. Brown, Director, Carnegie Science Center, Vice President, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh "Informative as well as moving, and frankly quite a bit disturbing." Rob Palmer, Skeptical Inquirer "Students need to appreciate the stakes of the argument about vaccination, especially the way infectious disease has caused so much human suffering. We need to awaken these memories. The first movie that terrified me in the 1950s showed kids my age in iron lungs. I hope my grandchildren never have to see that. Perhaps Virulent will help." Jonathan Moreno, Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Professor of History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania "This is a well-done portrait of the American anti-vaxx movement as it's developed over time...The personal stories offer food for compassion." Wendy M. Grossman, The Skeptic "What started as earnest parents with genuine questions about vaccines has morphed into a multimillion-dollar for-profit anti-vax industry that misinforms and endangers children. This documentary tells the story that needs to be told. The threat of infectious diseases is real and our children need vaccines to be healthy and thrive." Lynelle Phillips, Assistant Teaching Professor of Public Health, University of Missouri "Virulent does such an effective job combatting vaccine skepticism on so many different fronts." Rob Owen, Trib Total Media "I am astounded by how this documentary summarizes many years of scientific research on vaccine hesitancy into just one film. Virulent tells a compelling story about how vaccine hesitancy started, how it is disseminated, what drives the advocates of vaccine hesitancy, and how it affects the well-being of our society - all based on scientific research. It is not only informative and educational but also a fun film to share with our children, parents, and neighbors who still have lingering concerns about the safety of vaccines." Young Anna Argyris, Associate Professor of Media and Information, Michigan State University "Virulent explores the history of vaccines and the perspectives of those who oppose them in light of the recent pandemic [including] that they cause autism (spoiler: they do not)." Hanna Webster, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The anti-vaccine movement is more powerful than ever. To paraphrase Virulent, they have been practicing for just such a cataclysmic event [as COVID]. That's why we're happy to be holding a virtual screening...It is very good indeed." Dr. David Gorski, Managing Editor, Science-Based Medicine "We made the fortunate decision to host a showing of Virulent: The Vaccine War...Our attendees were deeply moved by the film and the thoroughness with which it addressed the current contention over vaccination, and it provided a strong point of discussion and motivation for the remaining work of our conference." Brian Abramson, Chairman of the first National Vaccine Law Conference, Arlington, VA "Our coalition members were delighted to have the opportunity to view Virulent...The film was received with much enthusiasm with many urging more screenings to a wider audience." L.J. Tan, Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer, Immunize.org