A friend recently fell seriously ill and developed sepsis. The doctor in his rural clinic ordered his immediate transfer to a large city hospital for emergency treatment.

Did this friend first seek the views of his buddies and online contacts, none of whom have medical training, but had "done their research"?

No, of course he didn't! He immediately got state-of-the-art medical intervention, including broad-spectrum antibiotics, and survived an ordeal that could have killed him had he not.

So why don't we all follow the same sound medical advice for vaccines? Like antibiotics, they've proven safe and effective through scientific method and evidence. They provide freedom from communicable diseases that killed millions only two generations ago.

Why does anyone doubt this? Because politicians often use fear tactics, and know many of us don't distinguish between actual truths and perceived truths. They know we are eager to believe something that supports our existing biases.

Actual truths are confirmed through extensive study and consistent evidence, repeated in observation after observation, study after study, investigation after investigation.

The list is long: The Earth is round. We are mortal. Eyeglasses improve vision. Antibiotics and vaccines save lives.

Perceived truths are developed and reinforced by repeating a carefully manipulated lie day after day, year after year. When heard enough, we begin to believe it. And it becomes a part of us.

It may feel true that vaccines cause autism, perhaps because over the past couple........

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