So I've been arguing about this (and other vaccines) for a while now and each time I get thrown some asinine article in my face. Each time I read the article it mentions data and each time I look up that date it is either written by some joke who also refers to "data", is not data in any form of fashion, or is referencing the 1998
Andrew Wakefield MMR vaccine hoax. I have tried to explain to my friends what an actual scientific paper looks like but they don't get it. Any crackpot who writes an article supporting their view is "evidence". Everyone else is wrong.
I have beat my head into a wall trying to show people that their belief that vaccines are worthless is based on a conspiracy theory but like every other conspiracy theory they keep on believing. They believe that the media, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and governments around the world are in on this or "just don't know the truth". You just can't fix stupid apparently.
This was the first time I've honestly considered ending a friendship because of sheer stupidity. How can I possibly look someone in the face and respect them when they are missing that part of the brain that makes logical conclusions? Then I calm down and remember that I am friends with religious people. However the big difference between believing in mythology and not vaccinating your kids is that one can kill your kids.