Why did Texas Parents of dead child double down on anti-vaccine lunacy?

I do answer the question towards the end, but first, let’s mull over what has happened and who has been driving it all.

I have come across what is perhaps one of the most jaw-dropping bits of news recently reported, and remember, given the current administration’s use of the signal app for sending war plans to random journalists, there is rather a lot of stiff competition running in the race to claim the “stupidity” crown.

The Texas parents of the child that died of very preventable measles have doubled down on their decision to not use the vaccine and continue to recommend that others should copy them. They participated in a bit of absurd anti-vaccine propaganda on camera — this next bit is the transscript of where they strongly recommended that others should also avoid having the vaccine in the middle of a measles outbreak that will kill more people…

Do you still feel the same way about the MMR vaccine versus measles and the proper treatment with Dr Ben Edwards?”

The mother did not hesitate. “Absolutely not take the MMR [vaccine],” she said. “The measles wasn’t that bad. [The other children] got over it pretty quickly. And Dr. Edwards was there for us.”