Update your style guides: Anti-vaxxers ask media to refer to them as 'vaccine risk aware' instead

This request comes from the Twitter account “Crazymothers,” whose mission is to “spread vaccine injury and recovery awareness — one Crazymother at a time.” We’re hearing more and more about anti-vaxxers, especially in the Hollywood celebrity community, but the Crazymothers have a request: that the media stop referring to them as anti-vaxxers and instead call them “vaccine risk-aware.”

Dear Media,
Please retire the use of the term “Anti-vaxxer.” It is derogatory, inflammatory, and marginalizes both women and their experiences. It is dismissivemy simplistic, highly offensive and largely false. We politely request that you refer to us as the Vaccine Risk Aware. pic.twitter.com/WtAyFOhLuv

— Crazymothers (@Crazymothers1) December 1, 2019

At least they asked nicely.

I'm sorry, I can't agree to this, Anti-vaxxer.

Apologies. https://t.co/mUDO4WeLDn

— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) December 3, 2019

But Crazymothers wants legitimacy.

— Canadian Club Love (@VirginiaPlain00) December 3, 2019

Yes please treat our group “Crazy insane crazy mothers, crazy people who are crazy” with the dignity and respect we deserve.

— Brendel (@Brendelbored) December 3, 2019

We will continue to refer to you as the Mass Graves Full Of Dead Children Enthusiasts, but thank you for your suggestion.

— Alexandra Ering, Are You Listening? In The Lane, S (@AlexandraErin) December 3, 2019

You have to admit, their Twitter handle sure is accurate.

— Dr Arnold T Blumberg (@DoctoroftheDead) December 3, 2019

How about Pro-Plague?

I like that better.

— Kassandra Seven (@KassandraSeven) December 3, 2019

would Pro-diptheria be better? Maybe "All for 50 dead people in Samoa" has a better ring.

— craig mawson (@mawson_craig) December 2, 2019

I had measles "injury" (i.e. almost died), as they didn't have measles vaccine when I was an infant. I politely request you stop putting children through Hell & possible death because you won't follow a bloody map, but are going with your "instincts"(per your Twitter page quotes)

— Dingus Amongus (@Dingusamongus) December 3, 2019

Deaf guy here. For deaf people of my generation, the #1 cause of *permanent* deafness was measles. When you see an older person signing in ASL, just remember they spent a lifetime like that because there WAS NO VACCINE. Now it's happening again because of DELIBERATE anti-vax BS.

— Openly Ray ? (@RayHarwick) December 2, 2019

That’s me. The chicken pox fever damaged my ears. There was no vaccine then but there is now. ?

— a sisters message (@SissyMessage) December 3, 2019

Antivaxxer is offensive… Says the woman openly calling herself crazy. ??

But hey, pro-disease works for me. Y'all are literally putting my partner at risk! He's a kidney transplant patient and relies on herd immunity.

— ?Tensai Badger? (@Rahnaseeta) December 3, 2019

As someone who has been immunocompromised during chemo, I'd ask the media to refer to #antivaxxers as attempted murderers

I'd also ask the media to note the fact that most anti-vaxxers are FULLY IMMUNIZED and are only putting their children & others at risk with their idiocy pic.twitter.com/XDDnGFPfiD

— ℳaryAnn ? I Ꮙote (@cinemaven) December 3, 2019

If you actually were "Risk Aware" you'd not be anti-vaxxers, because the risk of vaccine side-effects is tiny, especially compared to the risk we all face because you undermine herd immunity. So… calling you "risk aware" would be a lie.https://t.co/Ngn9RXkGut

— Dr. Dennis Eckmeier (@DennisEckmeier) December 2, 2019

I'm with you. I didn't vaccinate any of my kids and the one that survived seems to be fine.

— AntipodesAnnie ??? (@lacuchinaNZ) December 3, 2019

I’d like you to explain to me how to calculate relative risk, odds ratio and attributable risk and when you’ve demonstrated mastery of hazard analysis in a discussion, I’ll consider you all vaccine risk aware. I prefer to call you vaccine opponents or anti health.

— Mary Beth Miotto MD MPH (@MAhealthforkids) December 2, 2019

Referring to you as Vaccine Risk Aware marginalizes the reality that vaccines aren't black magic and the "risks" you're "aware" of were invented by a huckster who lost his medical license.

But if "anti-vaxxer" offends you, the style guide does allow us to call you "rubes".

— Sincerity Lynn Murphy (@PangaLynnM) December 3, 2019

Immunologist here.

The answer is: NO

You are not "Vaccine Risk Aware", you are "Dangerously uninformed and insisting that public health experts indulge your fantasies"

If you don't want Anti-vax, the only thing left is Self-Indulgent And Irresponsible Crazyperson

Pick one.

— JulieS (@jaxcarys) December 3, 2019

Vaccines are the greatest human accomplishment of the 20th century. Millions of lives have been saved. You, who spread proven falsehoods that put people at risk, do not get to call the shots.

— Mary Soulbirdr (@SoulBirdr) December 3, 2019

Hard pass. I shall keep reporting what you are: anti-science zealots creating biohazards and public health emergencies and bringing back formerly eradicated diseases with your dangerous, malevolent quackery.

— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) December 3, 2019

How about "Anti Science Sociopaths Hell-bent On Learning Erroneous Stuff"

Too long? I'll let you figure out the acronym.

— Jason Major (@JPMajor) December 3, 2019

Related:

Hundreds of anti-vaxxers crowd into small, enclosed space to protest immunization bill https://t.co/AYCswzav3f

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 25, 2019