It was a brief post with a big message. Facebook head honcho Mark Zuckerberg posted a photo on the social network of him and his daughter accompanied by five words: “Doctor’s visit—time for vaccines!” It’s difficult to imagine Zuckerberg didn’t want to send a subtle message of endorsement for vaccines with his post, particularly considering Silicon Valley has a lower-than-average rate of vaccination, according to Wired.
The photo immediately riled up anti-vaxxers who criticized Zuckerberg for putting his daughter at risk with the vaccinations. Some even accused him of taking money from drug companies for the endorsement. But many of the comments were also positive, praising the Facebook founder for taking a stance in favor of vaccinating toddlers. “It’s kinda sad that we now live in a world in which we congratulate people for vaccinating their kids. Look at how far we have regressed due to science illiteracy,” wrote Carlos Muñoz.
Read more of Slate’s coverage of vaccines, including:
- How to Deal With Anti-Vaxxers
- Don’t Blame Parents for Vaccine Resistance. Blame Mothers.
- My Life With Anti-Vaxxers
- How Would the U.S. Media Cover Anti-Vaxxers if They Were in Another Country?
Watch: Why It’s Impossible to Get the Flu From a Flu Shot
