A new documentary about childhood immunizations, The Greater Good," could intensify debate around the potential dangers of vaccines. The film ... aims to create "a rational discussion" about vaccine safety, according to producer and co-director Chris Pilaro. Pilaro immediately rejects the notion that "The Greater Good" might be labeled "anti-vaccine." "The media has said that if you 'question' [the current status quo] you are anti-vaccine. But all of the doctors, researchers and scientists in our film are pro-vaccine. You should not be considered anti-vaccine to question the safety of any pharmaceutical product." The film includes interviews with strong current vaccine advocates. But their voices are far outnumbered by those calling for further oversight of vaccinations, such as Dr. Bob Sears (author of The Vaccine Book), and Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, as well as families who claim to be victims of vaccine injuries. The film focuses on three such emotional stories: of a teenage girl whose life deteriorated after taking the HPV vaccine; a boy who developed autism subsequent to being vaccinated; and a family whose infant died shortly after being vaccinated. "We feel we have given voice to a population that isn't regularly represented in the media," says Pilaro, defending the choice of subjects. "The goal was not to scare people away from vaccinations," Pilaro continues. "We need to have the ability to ask these hard questions without being shunned."
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