Teen Testifying Before Congress About Defying Anti-Vaxx Parents Speaks Out Against ‘Dangerous’ Conspiracy Theories
Ethan Lindenberger gave an interview to CNN on Tuesday in which he pushed back on the emotional appeals behind the anti-vaccine conspiracy theories held by his parents.
Lindenberger will speak before Congress today after receiving national media interest for defying his anti-vaxxer parents by getting himself inoculated after turning 18 years old. As he discussed his plans to address misinformation about vaccines alongside a team of health experts, Lindenberger was asked by Jim Sciutto how he’s been able to balance his family life while his acting against his parents.
Lindenberger answered that he regularly speaks to his parents, and that he made the argument against his anti-vaxxer mother by calling out her incorrect views without being disrespectful or insulting on a personal level. He expressed concern, however, about the fact that his siblings and other people are exposed to health risks because his parents have not been convinced to get them vaccinated as well.
When asked if he blames his parents for a resurgence of diseases that were nearly eradicated by vaccines, Lindenberger said he puts the blame on the misinformation they bought into instead of them personally.
“When you are looking at these sources that spread this information and these lies…its very clear that all the information is incorrect, skewed data. Everything is not cited and also there’s a lot of emotional appeals talking about families, children and appealing to a parent’s love, and manipulating that to convince them vaccines are dangerous. That’s the issue I take. I have tried to convey to my parents I don’t think they are stupid for believing that, but people are very convincing and that’s very dangerous.”
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