JABBED PRESS KIT V15 (With Photos)

Press Kit 1 x 90 Minute Science Documentary Writer, Director, Producer: Sonya Pemberton Executive Producers: Michael Cordell, Nick Murray & Sonya Pemberton

Press Kit

1 x 90 Minute Science Documentary Writer, Director, Producer: Sonya Pemberton Executive Producers: Michael Cordell, Nick Murray & Sonya Pemberton

Website: http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/jabbed Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jabbedtv Twitter: #JabbedSBS Twitter account: @JabbedTV

CONTENTS

Synopsis I. one line II. one paragraph III. one page

Media release

Publicity Quotes

The Families

The Experts

Key crew

Director’s statement

Production information

Contacts

SYNOPSIS: one line

Jabbed Love, fear and vaccines.

To vaccinate, or not? What would you do to protect the ones you love?

SYNOPSIS: one paragraph

Jabbed Love, fear and vaccines.

Diseases that were largely eradicated forty years ago are returning. Across the world children are getting sick and dying from preventable conditions because nervous parents are skipping their children’s shots. And it’s not just kids: adults, too, are being hard hit. Yet the stories of vaccine reactions are frightening, with rare cases of people being damaged, even killed, by vaccines. How do we decide whether to vaccinate or not, and what are the real risks? Jabbed, made by 2012 Emmy Award-winning Australian documentary filmmaker Sonya Pemberton, travels the globe to look at the real science behind vaccinations, tracks real epidemics, and investigates the real cost of opting out. Talking with vaccine-makers, alternative healers, psychologists, anthropologists, and parents, the film posing the potent question: what would you do to protect the ones you love? Two years in the making Jabbed will confound your expectations, whatever your position on the most important and divisive public health question of the decade.

SYNOPSIS: one page

Jabbed Love, fear and vaccines.

Jabbed, made by 2012 Emmy Award-winning Australian documentary filmmaker Sonya Pemberton, traverses the globe to look at the real science behind vaccinations, and the real cost of opting out.

Two years in the making, this thoughtful and wide-ranging documentary is packed with surprises for vaccine supporters and opponents alike. We hear from vaccine makers, alternative healers, psychologists, immunologists and anthropologists, and parents who have, and have not, chosen to vaccinate their kids. What they have to say will confound your expectations, whatever your position on the most important and divisive public health question of the decade.

Highlighting real cases, Jabbed tracks outbreaks of communicable diseases and demonstrates just how fast they can spread – and how many people can fall sick – when a community's immunity barrier falls. The documentary also reveals cases where children have become ill – sometimes very ill – after having routine inoculations. Is the vaccine really to blame, or is there something else, something unseen, at work? The answers will intrigue you – as will the opinions of the parents who must now care for their disabled sons and daughters.

In global terms, the development of vaccines is surging. Work is under way in labs around the world to develop vaccines for a wide range of current devastating conditions, including cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. But could deadly rumours sabotage this new revolution in disease prevention before it gains momentum?

In Bhutan, a land better known for herbal remedies than hypodermic needles, schoolgirls are being vaccinated against cervical cancer. In neighbouring India a similar program is axed over unsubstantiated reports that girls are dying due to the vaccine.

Meanwhile, all this is monitored in London by a crack team of rumour-trackers, who map exactly how single pieces of half-truth expand and mutate, via the Internet, into front page scare stories that can terrify parents and plunge them into asking the potent question – to vaccinate or not to vaccinate? What would you do to protect the ones you love?

MEDIA RELEASE

NEW DOCUMENTARY ASKS THE QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN?

Jabbed, the new feature length documentary from Emmy-winning Australian writer-director Sonya Pemberton, presents a game-changing look at the often controversial subject of vaccination.

Jabbed will screen on SBS 1at 830pm Sunday May 26, 2013

The documentary, filmed in Australia, USA, England, Ukraine and Bhutan, takes a close look at the cases for and against the routine vaccination of children. Highlighting real science and real cases, Jabbed tracks current epidemics of preventable diseases that many people thought had been pretty much wiped off the face of the earth.

Over the past few years, stories about alleged toxic effects of vaccinations have received wide coverage, going viral across the Internet. As a result many parents around the world are increasingly scared, questioning the best way to protect their loved ones – to vaccinate, or not to vaccinate?

“We posed the question, do the vaccines scare us today because we rarely see the diseases anymore?" explained Ms Pemberton, who worked on Jabbed for over two years.

"We decided to revisit the diseases, to see whether it was time to recalculate the risk."

To her surprise, she found that it was a question that many major players in public health and epidemiology were also asking. Jabbed features interviews with some of the towering figures in conventional and alternative medicine, including rotavirus vaccine creator Dr Paul Offit, immunology 'super-star' Sir Gustav Nossal, and Dr Peter Fisher, clinical director of the largest alternative health centre in Europe – and the Queen's personal homeopath.

Their honest and frank opinions about the costs and benefits of childhood shots may well come as a surprise to many.

Although vaccinations against a range of killer diseases such as polio, smallpox, measles and diphtheria have undoubtedly saved millions of lives, Ms Pemberton and her team unearth cases of people, including children, who have suffered serious reactions and in some cases permanent damage linked to routine inoculations.

In a television first, she talks to the victims, the parents, and the specialists recruited to search for answers. Are the vaccines to blame, as anti-vaccine activists often claim, or is there something else, something more mysterious, operating behind the scenes? Once again, the documentary, together with the opinions of those most directly affected, seem set to turn the persistent vaccine controversy on its head.

Delving deep into history, Jabbed shows that vaccination, even in its earliest forms, has never been free from controversy. The documentary shows that this is still the current state of affairs, and often leads to tragic, fatal results. In Bhutan, schoolgirls are among the first in the developing world to be vaccinated against cervical cancer thanks to a team headed by

Australian immunologist Professor Ian Frazer. In neighbouring India a similar program is halted abruptly following reports of deaths falsely attributed to the vaccine.

"We are witnessing a global wave of mistrust, fuelled by a powerful new force – the Internet," said Ms Pemberton.

"Never before has such conflicting and confusing information been so readily available. In the film, we talk to some researchers in London – we call them the rumour-trackers – who work full time monitoring the growth of scare stories from local half-truth to viral news flash."

At its heart, though, Jabbed is a story about people, especially children, and the dangers inherent in its central dilemma - to jab or not to jab. It follows the heart-rending journeys of an Australian baby battling whooping cough, a Minnesota girl who contracts pneumococcal disease, a young boy who experiences devastating seizures shortly after vaccination, a brave young man crippled by the very polio vaccine that was supposed to protect him, a 10 year- old Swiss girl who unwittingly starts a French measles epidemic, and many more.

Jabbed is a major and compelling contribution to television science, which will make waves right around the world. It is the latest production from Ms Pemberton, triple winner of Eureka Award for science journalism, and follows her 2010 documentary on the science of aging, 'Immortal', which won the 2012 Emmy Award for Best Science Documentary.

Jabbed was made by Genepool Productions, a joint venture between Pemberton Films and Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder, with the participation of SBS Australia and Screen Australia. It was written, directed and produced by Sonya Pemberton. Executive producers were Ms Pemberton, Michael Cordell and Nick Murray. DOP: Harry Panagiotidis. Editor: Mark Atkin. Music: Peter Dasent. Animation and design by 21:19.

PUBLICITY QUOTES

“A triumph! JABBED is a thoughtful, beautiful and powerful documentary on one of the most important public health issues of our times. This film is timely and vital - it deserves the widest possible distribution. I recommend viewing for all who care about the future of global health.”

Sir Gustav Nossal

"JABBED is a thrilling ride through the turbulent vaccine debate that has caused some parents to refuse vaccines for their children. The movie walks a careful line by at once showing the anguish of parents confronted with the choice of injecting a biological fluid into their children's arms and the science that supports vaccines as the right thing to do. The movie also shows what can happen -- and what is happening -- to communities that now suffer outbreaks of diseases like measles and whooping cough because too many people are more frightened of vaccines than the diseases they prevent."

Dr Paul Offit

“A refreshingly well balanced and informative look at vaccination. JABBED doesn’t’ shy from the small risks of serious complications following immunisation, yet clearly highlights these risks are minor when compared to the risks of living in an under-vaccinated community. I hope that every parent facing a decision about whether to vaccinate their children will take the time to watch this, and think it through.”

Professor Ian Frazer

“JABBED doesn't just make you think - it makes you feel! It’s a subtle, compassionate and deeply compelling film about a remarkably complex subject. JABBED reminds us that it’s perfectly normal to be afraid of disease and afraid of vaccines, at the same time. At its’ core, Jabbed reveals that vaccines may not be perfect, but they are vitally important and the best option we currently have. JABBED is an extremely important film; one of the most nuanced, yet concrete explorations into vaccines in the modern world. We need more films such as these!"

Dr Brian Zikmund-Fisher

‘JABBED is an open and balanced look at immunisation. Since its introduction in 1796 (although it has a fascinating prehistory, also mentioned by JABBED), it has saved the lives of millions, mostly children. But that is not to say vaccination is entirely without risk. Informed communication is the way forward, and JABBED makes a valuable contribution to that. As a doctor, homeopath, and a father, I’d encourage people to come to this film with an open mind. No matter what your position on vaccination, there’s something here for everyone.”

Dr Peter Fisher

THE FAMILIES (in order of appearance)

Osman Chandab – Melbourne, Australia

Osman Chandab is seven weeks old. He is one week away from having his whooping cough (or Pertussis) vaccination, but the germ has got to him first. Now desperately ill, with added complications from pneumonia, Osman needs medical and breathing support 24 hours a day. His cough is deep, relentless and harrowing. There is no cure for whooping cough; antibiotics can only help stop the spread of infection. One in 250 babies hospitalised with whooping cough die. His mother, Joumana Chandab, 25, born in Lebanon, arrived in Australia 7 years ago. She stays by her son’s side, week after week, as Osman’s tiny body battles the disease. (Update: In early March 2013 Osman and his family celebrated his first Birthday.)

Kristina Leatherbarrow – Liverpool, United Kingdom

At 26 Kristina Leatherbarrow is usually a busy mum and nurse working at the Liverpool University Hospital. But today she is a patient, housed in an isolation ward and seriously ill with measles. Unvaccinated because of concerns about allergies, she is one of 500 or so people infected in the Liverpool area in 2012 - the largest outbreak of measles in over 25 years. The fact that she is a young adult means the measles virus is hitting her harder than it would hit most children – and her underlying asthma means she is having difficulties breathing. Kristina must remain in hospital where her breathing can be supported and her complications managed. One in 1000 measles cases can develop serious complications, leading to brain damage, hearing loss and, in rare cases, death. Kristina’s mother Elaine is by her side every day, frightened for her daughter. Kristina’s daughter, Ella is unable to visit as Kristina is simply too ill. There is no medical cure for measles. (Update: Kristina spent two weeks in isolation and quarantine. She returned home weak and itchy for several months. She appears to have no long-term complications.)

Luke Philbin – Melbourne, Australia

At six years of age Luke Philbin has had over 500 seizures, which have left him brain damaged and vulnerable. He was a healthy, happy and apparently normal baby when, at six months of age, he had his routine vaccinations. 17 hours later he had a seizure that landed him in hospital. The seizures continued, each one damaging his brain further. His parents, Sam Jackson (42) and Tom Philbin (40), believed the vaccine was to blame until, after many months of searching the world for answers, they discovered the clues lay just across town. At the Melbourne Brain Centre researchers were studying rare cases like Luke’s, where ongoing seizures followed vaccination. In 2006, after years of research, the team published links to a form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is caused by a rare underlying gene disorder; but fevers can trigger the seizures, whether fever from a toothache, or a cold, or a vaccine. For Sam and Tom, the knowledge that it was not their fault, that Luke was going to get this condition anyway, is both heartbreaking and a relief. Now Luke is one of the vulnerable ones. He cannot be vaccinated further without risking more seizures, but the fever from a disease such as measles could kill him – so therefore Luke relies on everyone around him being free from infection.

David Salamone and Gordon Pierson – United States

David Salamone made headlines when he was a child, because he acquired polio from the oral polio vaccine. Now 22, this is the first time he has appeared on television to tell his family’s epic story of changing the polio vaccine. Originally a ‘live vaccine’, it was effective but carried a one-in-2.4- million risk of causing the very disease it was designed to prevent. The Salamone family set out to reduce that risk to zero. Gordon Pierson, 17, also acquired polio from the vaccine. Despite having spent his life in the modern-day version of the Iron Lung – a complex wheelchair and breathing machine – Gordon has just graduated high school. Both David and Gordon are reunited in this film. Surprisingly, perhaps, both families are not opposed to vaccinations. They have experienced first hand the devastation polio can do and they know if not for the vaccines there would be many, many more cases like David and Gordon.

Dorji Om - Bhutan

At 30 years of age, Dorji Om has a lot to live for. She adores her three children and, until recently, enjoyed her happy productive life working at the Thimphu markets with her husband. But she has advanced cervical cancer and it is killing her, despite the best medical treatments available. Now in Bhutan there is a vaccine to help prevent this disease: the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine stops the virus that starts the cancer. It is being rolled out across the world in an attempt to stop not only cervical cancers, but several other neck, head and genital cancers caused by the same virus. But for Dorji Om the vaccine comes too late. (Update - Dorji died on March the 6th 2013 in hospital.)

Abigale Peterson – Minnesota, United States

Abigale Peterson was five years old when she and her family paid the ultimate price for lack of protection from one of the world’s most common, aggressive and vaccine-preventable infections – pneumococcal disease. In 10 hours she went from playing with her brother to dying in her mother’s arms in the back seat of a car as they rushed to hospital. Abigale had received most of her vaccines, but not the one for pneumococcal disease. Her mother Shannon had been ‘discouraged’ from having it administered to her daughter, because the local doctor felt Abigale was a healthy child. Unknown to all, Abigale had a rare underlying immune disorder that meant she was extremely susceptible to the dangers of this disease. She needed the vaccine more than most, and ideally she needed the people around to be her free from disease. (Abigale died on 18th of February 2001.)

THE EXPERTS

Sir Gustav Nossal – Immunologist (AUS)

Sir Gustav Nossal is a global super-star of immunology. Through his tenure at institutions such as the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Stanford University in the US, the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, he has helped build the foundations of modern immunology. He has worked to improve global health through long-term involvement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, most recently as Chairman of WHO’s Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunisation and Chairman of the Gates Foundation’s Discovery Expert Group. Most recently as Chairman of the Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunisation. Sir Gustav was named Australian of the Year in 2000.

Australian Academy of Science: http://ni.unimelb.edu.au/about_us/welcome/sir_gustav_nossal_welcome

Dr Paul Offit – Infectious Diseases Specialist (USA)

Dr. Paul Offit is chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Vaccine Education Centre, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is the author of eight books, and co-inventor of the Rotavirus vaccine RotaTeq, estimated to save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide every year.

http://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a.html

Dr Peter Fisher – Homeopathic Physician (UK)

Dr. Peter Fisher is Clinical Director and Director of Research, Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, and Physician to Her Majesty The Queen. Peter is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Expert Advisory Panel on Traditional and Complementary Medicine, and received the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal of the Polish Academy of Medicine in 2007. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Homeopathy, published by Elsevier, the leading international scientific journal of homeopathy.

http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/OurServices/Consultants/Pages/DrPeterFisher.aspx

Professor Ian Frazer – Immunologist and HPV Specialist (Aus)

Professor Frazer is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Research at the Translational Research Institute, based in Brisbane. Ian is famous for creating four vaccines which prevent infection with the human papilloma virus, common skin infections which are responsible for most cervical cancers. He has been honoured with many awards for his work, including the CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science (2005), Australian of the Year (2006), Howard Florey Medal for Medical Research (2007), the Prime Minister's Prize for Science (2008), the Balzan Prize for Preventive Medicine (2008), the Australian Medical Association Gold Medal (2009) and elected Fellow of the esteemed Royal Society of London (2011).

http://www.tri.edu.au/index.php/about-tri/tri-staff/tri-executive

Professor Ingrid Scheffer – Dravet Syndrome (Aus)

Professor Ingrid Scheffer is a Paediatric Neurologist and Professor at the University of Melbourne and Florey Institute, initially trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London. Ingrid is helping to transform the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by seizures and other symptoms that can be extremely disruptive to the lives of people affected by it. One of her research specialities is understanding the genetic basis of Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that starts at the age of about six months.

http://www.austinmedicine.unimelb.edu.au/research/epilepsy/clinical-genetics.html

Dr Heidi Larson – Anthropologist (‘rumour tracking’) (UK)

Dr Heidi Larson is a senior lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is an anthropologist who currently leads a team who is studying issues around public trust in vaccines and the implications for immunization programmes and policies around the world. Dr. Larson previously headed Global Communication for Immunization at UNICEF and Chaired the Advocacy Task Force for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).

http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/larson.heidi

Dr Brian Zikmund-Fisher – Decision Psychologist (USA)

Dr Zikmund-Fisher is an Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Research Assistant Professor in the UM Department of Internal Medicine. An expert in health risk communication, Dr. Zikmund-Fisher directs the Internet Survey Lab at the UM Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine and is affiliated with the UM Health Informatics program, the UM Risk Science Center, and the UM Center for Health Communications Research. He also serves as an associate editor for the journal ‘Medical Decision Making’.

http://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/faculty/profile.cfm?uniqname=bzikmund

Professor Robert Booy – Scientific Advisor (Aus)

Special advisor on the Jabbed project, Professor Robert Booy is head of the clinical research team at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), and Professor of Paediatrics (PLURAL) and Child Health at the University of Sydney and the KID's Research institute, Westmead, Sydney

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/robertb2.php

Associate Professor Julie Leask – Scientific Advisor (Aus)

A social scientist specialising in immunisation, Dr Julie Leask was the key advisor to the JABBED “Survey of Australian Attitudes to Vaccination” whilst also providing expert guidance in communication of immunisation issues. She is an Associate Professor at The University of Sydney, School of Public Health and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance. Julie's research interests include immunisation controversies, psychological and sociological aspects of infectious diseases, risk communication, and the mass media.

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/juliel3.php

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Writer, Director, Producer & Co-Executive Producer: Sonya Pemberton

2012 Emmy award winner and three-time winner of the prestigious Eureka Award for Science Journalism, Sonya’s passion is quality science programming.

Sonya Pemberton is one of Australia’s leading factual television producers specialising in science. She has written, directed and produced over 50 hours of broadcast documentary, and executive produced many award-winning factual series and one-off programs. Sonya was Head of Specialist Factual at ABC Television from 2004 to 2007, where she commissioned more than 300 hours of factual television. Her understanding of audiences’ desire for smart, accessible TV saw ratings rise across the genres. Over the past decade Sonya’s science programs have won more than 30 major international awards, and she has been three times honoured with the prestigious Eureka Prize for Science Journalism (2003, 2004, 2008). In 2011, her film Immortal won her the Australian Health Journalist of the Year award. The film won Best Science at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and, in 2012, US News and Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Science Programming. Sonya has recently joined forces with Australia’s largest Independent production company, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ), to create Genepool Productions – Australia’s first television production company focusing on quality science programming. Genepool’s first documentary is Jabbed – love, fear and vaccines.

Executive Producers: Michael Cordell & Nick Murray

Michael Cordell and Nick Murray are two of Australia’s most established producers, and the founding partners of Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ), a recent merger of Cordell Jigsaw Productions and Zapruder’s Other Films (founded by Andrew Denton), the two leading Australian television production companies. CJZ is now Australia’s largest independently owned producer specialising in original content across all genres. In 2011 CJZ combined forces with acclaimed science specialist Sonya Pemberton to create a new joint venture, Genepool Productions.

DOP: Harry Panagiotidis

Harry has more than 40 Australian and US feature films credits as camera operator, Steadicam operator, and second unit DOP. He also works as Director of Photography on documentaries and factual programs. Married to director Sonya Pemberton, the husband and wife creative team thrive on tackling stories of science together. Recent films include Catching Cancer (ABC/NGTV), Emmy award winning Immortal (SBS/Smithsonian) and now Jabbed – love, fear and vaccines.

Editor: Mark Atkin ASE

Mark Atkin is one of Australia’s leading editors and filmmakers. For more than 25 years he has edited a wide range of award-winning productions, including feature films such as Only the Brave and Puppy; telemovies including Secret Bridesmaid’s Business and Saved; prime time television drama such Seachange, MDA, Offspring and The Slap; and high profile documentaries including Two Mums and a Dad, The Sounds of Australia, The Ball, Immigration Nation and Jabbed- love, fear and vaccines. In 2004, in recognition of excellence in screen editing, Mark received accreditation by the prestigious Australian Screen Editors Guild. In 2012, Mark won an “Elle” (ASE award) for Best Editing in a Television Drama for The Slap, episode one.

Line Producer: Roslyn Walker

Roslyn produced the telemovie Baby Bath Massacre, feature film Peaches and a documentary about Jane Campion's work, Portrait. Roslyn line produced the feature documentaries Jabbed – love, fear and vaccines, and Not Quite Hollywood. She is currently producing Remain in Light, a film about architect Sean Godsell's Design Hub building. Roslyn's other industry roles include being Manager of Film Victoria, SPAA Victorian Chapter Head, and a member of the Victorian Working Party. She established the producing course at the VCA School of Film and Television. In 2012, she travelled to LA on an International Specialised Skills Institute fellowship to study TV series development in the US.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

In 2009 I made a film called Catching Cancer, exploring how some cancers are caused by viruses and how this is, surprisingly, good news: for if a virus is to blame, then we can try to create vaccines to counter them. After the film went to air I received a lot of feedback, mostly very positive. But I also received feedback from people strongly opposed to vaccines, particularly the cervical cancer vaccines; and some of these people were angry, even aggressive.

This experience triggered a great deal of thought. I wanted to understand why some people would be so afraid of vaccines; any proven way to stop a disease seemed a sound idea to me. But I come from a medical family and I have spent my adult life making films about science and medicine, so this level of mistrust was alien to me. I wanted to better understand. So began several years of reading books, talking to parents, to scientists, to researchers and – critically - exploring Internet sites, learning of a deep undercurrent fear around vaccines.

I spent many months listening to stories; stories of children who died from lack of a vaccine; stories of children seriously hurt after vaccines; and stories of parents trying to make sense of it all. There was a point when I was overloaded – I had cried so many tears for so many families, I was exhausted from all the statistics and counter statistics, I was weary of the ridicule and nastiness on both sides, and I was scared of the diseases and scared of the rare but real vaccine reactions. I simply wanted to put my head beneath the doona cover and hide. I wanted to walk away from making a film about vaccines.

But the stories stayed with me. And in mid 2012, with the support of SBS and Screen Australia, we set off to ask families and scientists to share their stories on screen, to see if we could generate a new style of conversation around vaccines.

Now with the film completed, I realise I have travelled a remarkable journey. Two years ago I was an unquestioning vaccine supporter, then, as I began delving deeper, I felt real horror at the realisation that occasionally vaccines can do harm. I clearly appreciated the transformative power of vaccines, the extraordinary freedom from disease they have delivered, but now I also understood the fear. So I have found a place of clarity; I am fully in support of vaccination and I have questions.

Today I better understand that there are risks involved, and how it helps to have these risks acknowledged; that it is a business like so many (one driven by extraordinary people and sometimes flawed people, as in every business), and we must hold it accountable; that it is a world of breathtakingly powerful science, and that science is constantly evolving as new evidence comes to light.

When someone says to me they don’t ‘believe’ in vaccination, I no longer thunder back,” It’s not about faith, it’s science!” Instead I ask them, “Why?” Their reasons are as varied as the people themselves. They often teach me a great deal and many are genuinely seeking a conversation, an exchange, not simply looking to affirm their pre-existing position. And so we listen to each other’s stories.

For me, beyond the statistics, risk assessment and comparing costs to benefits, it comes down to what Brian Zikmund-Fisher says in the film, “The question is not is this the perfect choice, but is this the better choice?” For me, the vaccines are the best option we have right now. The diseases are real and we forget or ignore them at our peril. We need to consider ourselves and our communities, and the vulnerable ones amongst us. And we also need to question the vaccines, to listen when new evidence is presented and, most importantly, keep the conversation open. Most of us are simply trying to make sense of a complex, often fear-filled world, trying to find the best ways to protect ourselves, and the ones we love. In that we are united.

Sonya Pemberton March 6, 2013.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Title : Jabbed – love, fear and vaccines Length : 90:00 Type : Documentary Genre : Science Writer/Director : Sonya Pemberton Producer : Sonya Pemberton DOP : Harry Panagiotidis Editor : Mark Atkin Composer : Peter Dasent Australian TV Broadcaster : SBS Production Company : Genepool Productions

CONTACT DETAILS

Sales: Cordell Jigsaw Distribution Kristin Burgham Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 9217 2200

Media: SBS Publicity Department Genepool Productions

Genepool Productions

T: 61 3 9646 6678