Dr. Roger Hodkinson is a pivotal figure in the anti-vaccine industry. For these and many other outlandish health-related comments, he’s become infamous for his extreme views during the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s still out there promoting controversial ideas about vaccines and public health. This continues after being disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
Public health #CPSA has now publicly sanctioned Dr. Hodkinson for peddling anti-vaccine lies. He testified that unless a mother is a drug addict or has given the child hepatitis B, there’s no need to vaccinate newborns for hepatitis B. He even argued that the measles vaccine causes more harm than measles. Second, experts like Tim Caulfield, a law and health professor at the University of Alberta, were quick to shoot down the claim as completely bogus.
Dr. Hodkinson’s controversial views go as far as advocating conspiracy theories that COVID-19 causes autism. Recently, though, he took it a step further founding a consulting business on vaccine injuries related to COVID-19 and autism. This fee is C$790, or about US$570, plus HST. On May 3, he made the announcement on his radio show. The show was hosted on Solid Gold Family Radio, an online platform based in Edmonton.
Dr. Hodkinson’s UnHerd show premiered on March 22, only days before his CPSA sanction came down. Despite massive outcry from the medical community and public health officials, he continues to double down on his misguided agenda. The sanctions the CPSA imposed were extensive. They proposed adding a warning, a mandatory training course on advocacy and undue influence, and a $5,000 fine to recoup investigation expenses.
Even now, while admitting the inappropriateness of his language when attacking other medical professionals, Dr. Hodkinson doubled-down. His contentions were that vaccines were more of a risk than the infectious diseases they prevent. This assertion underlines a crucial yeast for debate. His insensitive comments have understandably outraged those in the medical community.
“There is just no doubt that the spread and normalization and legitimization of demonstrably false claims does harm to the public,” – Tim Caulfield
Caulfield went on to describe how this kind of pervasive misinformation erodes trust in our healthcare systems and pushes people towards unproven therapies. As chief medical officer, he highlighted the need to hold physicians and medical professionals responsible for their harmful public health messaging.
The harm of Dr. Hodkinson’s actions goes far beyond personal responsibility. His attorney, Alan Honner, is the litigation director for the Democracy Fund, a nonprofit that protects anti-vaccine narratives. Honner has herself claimed that Dr. Hodkinson’s beliefs speak to an important audience. On top of that, Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly hosted him on her own podcast, showing the kind of political support he enjoys.
Critics counter that CPSA needs to hold increasingly strict lines for the sake of medical professionals and public health. The privilege of being a medical doctor comes with the heavy responsibility of following ethical guidelines, Caulfield added.
“Their duty is to the public and being a member of the medical profession is a privilege that is granted by the state,” – Tim Caulfield
