Dispatches: Trump, the Doctor and the Vaccine Scandal - Everything you need to know

The new Channel 4 documentary investigates the links between the US President and disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield
Cracking the conspiracy: Cathy Newman interviews Andrew Wakefield for Dispatches documentary
Channel 4

After being struck off in 2010 for misleading claims about the MMR scare, Andrew Wakefield has reinvented himself in the US and claims to have the ear of Donald Trump.

A new Channel 4 Dispatches programme investigates his relationship with the President as well as Trump’s own anti-vaccination views. Here’s everything you need to know:

What’s it about?

The show uncovers Andrew Wakefield’s increasing prominence in America including his White House connections.

Detailing Trump’s own anti-science agenda and scepticism about vaccinations, the Dispatches investigation finds Wakefield’s rising prominence across the pond coinciding with an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment.

Who is Andrew Wakefield?

A discredited former doctor, Wakefield authored a fraudulent research paper in 1998 that supported a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

In 2004 he was the subject of a Dispatches documentary which exposed his unethical practises.

The biggest and best TV shows of 2017

1/10

It was revealed by Channel 4 that while claiming that the MMR jab was unsafe he was also being paid by solicitors who were suing the makers of the vaccine.

Now Wakefield is having a comeback over in the US, gaining contacts within conspiracy theorist circles and using his anti-vaccine stance to make powerful allies in the White House.

What was the MMR scare?

The MMR scare began with Wakefield’s 1998 fraudulent research paper which supported a connection between the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism spectrum disorders.

The paper’s findings were disproved by later studies, but not before a media frenzy caused lasting public health consequences including a lack of confidence in vaccines.

Who will be presenting it?

The show is presented by reporter and Channel 4 news anchor Cathy Newman who interviews Andrew Wakefield about his and Donald Trump’s anti-vaccination theories.

When is it on?

Dispatches: Trump, the Doctor and the Vaccine Scandal will air on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in