Delta In-Flight Ad Causes Stir

Delta Airlines has announced that it will change its approval process for in-flight ads, after a PSA from the National Vaccine Information Center, a group that is often critical of vaccines, caused an uproar, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. The ad, which will keep running through the end of November on all westbound flights, lists ways to avoid the flu, including vaccines. But it advises passengers to research vaccines first and discuss them with their doctor. “Don’t hesitate to ask questions,” it says.

The American Academy of Pediatrics accused Delta of “putting the lives of children at risk” by airing the ad. A Change.org petition urging the airline to remove the ad has more than 2,200 signatures. Delta responded by saying that it will change its procedures "to ensure all programming is relevant, accurate, and does not lend itself to interpretation." But the NVIC’s president says the ad is perfectly responsible: "I don’t understand why there’s this controversy. For the people who want to use vaccines, we are fighting for safer vaccine policies and safer vaccines. I don't see what's wrong with that." (More American Academy of Pediatrics stories.)