title: The media-driven risk society, the anti-vaccination movement and risk of autismo.
abstract: Marked changes have been seen in the epidemiological profile of infectious diseases among middle-class families in industrialized countries due to beliefs related to the risks of vaccination. These beliefs are proliferating globally due to internet sites, blogs and the influence of celebrities in the mass communication media. Due to the complexity of a cultural phenomenon of this nature, contemporary concepts aligned to the idea of reflexivity in the risk society are analyzed. The concept of a receptive media-driven society in which the announcement of danger and protection in mutual reference and contradiction are also assessed. The frequent emergence of tensions derived from cycles of utterances and baseless comments construed as symbolic "biovalues" are discussed. The persistent effect of threatening biotechnological and fraudulent utterances has influenced virtual networks for almost three decades, supporting the debate about the connection between autism and vaccines. The conclusion reached is that the processes of production of significance interconnect at various levels in which representations circulate that support communication and group identity based on historical and cultural references.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Inovações Terapêuticas, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, bioeticaunirio@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos-Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Inovações Terapêuticas, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, bioeticaunirio@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Luis David
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Castiel
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Inovações Terapêuticas, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, bioeticaunirio@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Rosane Härter
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Griep
mesh_terms: D000070377:Anti-Vaccination Movement; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D012306:Risk; D066252:Sociological Factors