The other day I was watching television and an ad came on that caught my attention right away. Mom holding baby, baby with a hacking cough, hand-held camera, quick edits, scary music…It was an ad about how moms can be the ones to actually give their children Pertussis, and doing its best to make that prospect really, really scary. I’m certainly not saying that Pertussis is not a big deal, or that children should not get vaccinated. Both of mine have been. What I am saying is that the alarmist tone of the commercial seemed unfair in that it preys not just on a mother’s fear of her child getting sick, but it actually seemed to be trying to tap into a real Achilles heel for all mothers and that is her guilt. About…everything.Then just as the ad was ending, there it was at the bottom of the screen: Paid for by Sanofi Pasteur. Excuse me while I clear my throat. Now I know they have every right to advertise their products, but color me skeptical when the maker of a vaccine is the one telling you why you should get it. And making you feel terrible if you don’t. Maybe this commercial is for a certain demographic that is not up on vaccinations, I have no clue. But it bugs. See for yourself.
