BabyCenter's Rotavirus E-mail from Merck
A friend of WebWatch recently forwarded us an e-mail she found disturbing—as do we. She’s a new Mother, and like many expectant women, she subscribed to BabyCenter, during her pregnancy. She’s still on BabyCenter’s mailing list, and just received this e-mail.
After reeling off some alarming statistics about the dangers of rotavirus – which just about every child will suffer through at some point in their lives – superimposed over the soft-focus image of distressed infant, the e-mail concludes with the warning “it happens to babies like yours,” and directs you to this site.
Although the site is identical in look and feel to the e-mail, there is one big difference, a banner ad that reads: “Where patients come first – Merck.”
“I am so annoyed by this email, which appears to be a message of editorial nature. It's not until you go to the site www.rotavirusinfo.com that you learn it's sponsored by big pharma,” our friend wrote.
Although BabyCenter is upfront in the e-mail (and on its site) that it may send you offers from BabyCenter and “partners,” we wonder how many people would follow the link if they knew it’s an ad from a pharmaceutical giant? BabyCenter itself is owned by pharmaceutical and baby product giant Johnson & Johnson, a fact the site could be a bit more transparent about.
“My pediatrician actually recommended against this vaccine because in his decades he's only had a few children contract the disease...but many more who have had bad reactions to the vaccine,” she added. “If a mother who doesn't understand the web/marketing universe receives this, she will likely think BabyCenter is endorsing the vaccine.”
Although the site contains links about the signs, symptoms and dangers of Rotovirus (Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis and diarrhea, and there is some danger of dehydration as a result, but fatalities occur most often in developing countries), there’s no mention anywhere of Merck’s vaccine—presumably because they want you to ask your doctor. The site also contains a ”Talking to Your Doctor About Rotovirus” page, which offers six questions, the last of which is: What can I do to help manage symptoms or complications if my child becomes infected?
The answer to that question is a Merck vaccine called Rotateq, and two safety alerts issued by the Food and Drug Administration in February and June may have something to do with her pediatrician’s recommendation to avoid it.