CSNbbs

Quote:A teen who made headlines after getting vaccinated against his mother's wishes at age 18 is shared his story in front of Congress Tuesday. High school senior Ethan Lindenberger testified before a Senate committee about his decision to defy his mom and get vaccinated.

"I grew up understanding my mother's beliefs that vaccines were dangerous," Lindenberger said at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor, and Pensions. "She would speak openly about these views. Both online and in person she would voice her concerns and these beliefs were met with strong criticism. Over the course of my life seeds of doubts were planted and questions arose because of the backlash my mother would receive."

As he approached high school, Lindenberger began to do his own research on the matter and quickly learned that there was no scientific evidence that backed up his mother's concerns.

"I approached my mother numerous times trying to explain that vaccines are safe and that my family should be vaccinated, approaching even with articles from the CDC explicitly claiming that ideas that vaccines cause autism and extremely dangerous consequences were incorrect," Lindenberger said. In once such instance he said his mother responded with, "That's what they want you to think."