Critical thinking and the vaccination debate

Vaccinating young children has become a delicate issue confounded by myth and speculation, thereby confusing parents and carrying health implications for society. This "vaccine debate" provides an interesting case study for a course on Critical Thinking recently introduced at McGill.

The forum will be hosted by Canada Research Chair in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Amir Raz, bringing together Seth Mnookin, science writer and author of The Panic Virus -- a comprehensive examination of the history of vaccines in general and the autism debate in particular -- as well as Brian Ward, a McGill vaccine expert. We will consider scientific evidence, cultural trends, psychosocial factors, public health implications, rumors and gossip.

This event is open to McGill, family physicians, parents as well as any interested member of the community at large. The forum is free of charge.