Before we get into our Part 2 discussion on Verification, Independence and Accountability in class Feb. 4, I want you all to consider a raging controversy in the US that is not going away: vaccines.

Our public health is at stake — as China and the rest of the world is learning all too painfully with the runaway spread of the coronavirus. Here in the US, anti-vaxxers are fighting against vaccines requirements and taking to news outlets and social media to make their case. The Centers for Disease Control is fighting back, but not nearly as aggressively.

Please read this story on a news site called Full Measure: http://fullmeasure.news/news/cover-story/the-vaccination-debate

And read this New York Times editorial around the same time: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/opinion/vaccines-public-health.html

No essay is required with these readings, but please come to class with some questions and notes from the readings so that we can have detailed discussion. We will dig into the Full Measure story and who is behind it, discuss the public health implications and hear where you stand on what news neighborhood this all falls into.