Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Oscar-winning director Scott Hamilton Kennedy are teaming up for a new documentary called “Shot in the Arm” that aims to address vaccine hesitancy and the spread of COVID misinformation. The film originally intended to focus on the rising measles outbreak and the potential for a global pandemic. However, when COVID cases surged in early 2020, the documentary took an unexpected turn and became a plea for people to recognize the importance of science and verifiable truth in society.
Kennedy explains that the film explores the concept of confirmation bias, which occurs when individuals favor information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence. He argues that the pro-vaccine side is more comfortable using the process of science to check their biases against available evidence, while many anti-vaccine individuals deny or cherry-pick evidence to support their desired outcome.
Tyson emphasizes the need for scientific literacy and critical thinking, particularly in the face of misinformation spread through social media. He suggests that if science was taught as a way to query nature and not just a collection of facts, people would be less likely to base their beliefs on what makes them feel good or aligns with their cultural or political platforms.
The film serves as a reminder of the importance of a collective effort to combat public health crises. Tyson stresses that being a responsible citizen involves looking after one another and not putting the health, wealth, and security of society at risk. The documentary will premiere in New York on November 3 and in Los Angeles on November 17.
