Deadly Rise of Anti-science – Hotez Peter J. (2025)

Dr. Peter Hotez examines how the anti-vaccine movement became a dangerous political campaign promoted by elected officials and amplified by news media, causing thousands of American deaths. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hotez worked around the clock to develop a nonprofit vaccine and keep the public informed, becoming one of the most trusted voices on the pandemic and a target of anti-science rhetoric in conservative news media. In this eyewitness account, he describes how the anti-vaccine movement grew into a prominent force in American politics and the devastating impact it has had on American health and lives. Drawing on his personal experiences and his work in scientific discovery and advocacy, Hotez explains how anti-science became a tool of far-right political figures around the world and a major societal and lethal force. He notes that more than 200,000 unvaccinated Americans died needlessly during the first years of the pandemic despite the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines. While portraying a world overshadowed by aggressive ignorance, he also offers solutions for combating science denial and saving lives.