Who Trolled Amber? - Introducing: Dr Anti-vax

Episode Date: October 16, 2023

Introducing Dr Anti-vax: the making of a modern panicHow did the anti-vax movement become so mainstream?25 years ago, a British doctor Dr Andrew Wakefield sparked a global vaccine panic. Today, Alexi Mostrous, the reporter behind chart-topping hit podcasts Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed investigates how anti-vaxxers have gone from the fringes of public life to the centre of the culture wars that divide America and so many other countries, and the beguiling fall and rise of the man who started it all.Episode 1 goes live on Tuesday 24th October and all three episodes will be available to Tortoise members on the free Tortoise audio app, and subscribers to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in the middle of an anti-vax storm. Kennedy is challenging President Biden for the party's nomination. He's also an anti-vaccine activist. It's a world of garbled science and outlandish claims. So far, I have an RNA-modifying nanotechnology that has a luciferase in it. Oh, and by the way, in addition to fetal tissue, this particular technology has cryptocurrency in it. Does that sound appealing to you, sir? You are five times more likely to get sick and more than 10 times more likely to die if you've been what? V-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-vaccinated.

Anti-vaxxers and their cause have reached the top of politics. In Florida, we reject the biomedical security state. Florida has defeated Fauci-ism. Freedom has prevailed in the Sunshine State. And the chant of health freedom is now a sort of battle cry. My God made me perfect. I am not born into an original sin that needs 72 vaccines. I stand with you.

How did we get here? And where will the anti-vax movement go next? I'm Alexi Mostras, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed. And from Tortoise, this is Dr. Antivax, a new series about the war against vaccines, a war involving ordinary mothers. Parents out there thinking that it's a good idea to vaccinate, those parents, parents that I used to be, it is our job, it is our duty to warn them. Billionaire backers and celebrity activists.

So I think they need to wake up and stop hurting our kids. And behind them all, one beguiling British doctor. He's so charming. His eyes look so compassionate. Once you tell him that, yes, you're right, I believe in you, then it becomes sort of like an army and a family at the same time. The first episode of Dr. Antifax will be released on Tuesday, the 24th of October. Follow the feed wherever you get your podcasts so that you don't miss an episode. You can get early access to the series and ad-free listening by subscribing to Tortoise Plus on Apple Podcasts or downloading the Tortoise Audio app.