Using a misquote, without context, to try and make a point about modern vaccines
““In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the smallpox taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation.” This quote is from Ben Franklin but it leaves out so much context as to be used incorrectly today. It relies on the modern day readers perspective that a vaccination existed then, but perhaps he was an anti-vaxxer. In fact, their “innoculation” had a 1 in 50 fatality rate during smallpox outbreaks. And it was not until about 100 years later the concept of an effective vaccine came into play. This quote works as propaganda because of the “What You See Is All There Is” phenomena – the viewer makes assumptions based on our contemporary situation.
