The View has announced that it has recruited none other than Jenny McCarthy as its new host.  As a core figure fueling vaccine fear in the mid-2000’s, she is individually responsible for putting millions of helpless children at unnecessary risk.  This was originally posted on my old blog, Parenting Solved, in September 2008 and now serves as a bit of personal history.  The autism Q&A link is priceless and captures the profound sense of grandiosity and arrogance McCarthy brought to her deadly anti-vaccine crusade.  

Today Jenny McCarthy had center stage on the Oprah Show once again promulgating misinformation and anti-vaccine sentiment.  Ms. McCarthy’s appearance as a self-appointed expert on vaccines and autism conveniently coincides with the appearance of her latest book, Mother Warriors.  And while she can no longer lay the foundation of her assault against vaccines on the merits of the thimerisol argument, Ms. McCarthy used her network pulpit to take aim against the latest autism culprit:  the vaccine schedule.

Beyond Ms. McCarthy’s ideas on how the CDC should be operating, the Oprah website is hosting a “Jenny McCarthy Autism Q&A.” Everything from “glucose allergies” to her recommended prescription medications for Candida are detailed with the requisite disclaimer that she’s “really not a doctor.”  Hmm…she had me fooled for a moment.

Ms. McCarthy’s representation as an “Anti-vax Warrior” masquerading as “Mother Warrior” is an affront to parents everywhere concerned about the well-being of their children.  Her efforts are working to coincidentally drive down immunization rates and support the rising tide of measles.

It should be noted that the producers of the show declined an offer by the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide a representative to balance Ms. McCarthy’s views.  Oprah did, however, grant the Academy a statement which was read in part during the show.