STAT

Meet the Uber driver on a mission to troll the ‘Vaxxed’ anti-vaccine road trip

Craig Egan spent his summer chasing the Vaxxed bus across the U.S. to protest its anti-vaccine message. He's not sure he's changed minds. But he's had fun.

When anti-vaccine activists gather in the shadow of the big black “Vaxxed” bus, it’s easy to spot the guy who’s there without an invitation.

He’s the protester holding a homemade sign declaring that vaccines save lives. He’s often wearing a T-shirt with the name of the polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, stylized like the logo of a rock band. You might even spot him filming a lighthearted video updating his online followers on his quest to chase down the Vaxxed bus tour, which grew out of a controversial anti-vaccination documentary with the same name.

Craig Egan estimates he’s put 7,000 miles on his Toyota Prius subcompact this summer following the bus tour everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to Missouri. And no, he does not mind being called a troll. In fact, he embraces it. He even plans his T-shirts to be as annoying as possible.

“I enjoy being, frankly, a pain in the ass to anti-vaxxers,” Egan told STAT last week

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT1 min read
Opinion: STAT+: How AI Can Help Satisfy FDA’s Drug, Device Diversity Requirements
To meet the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act, companies must rethink their current clinical trial strategies. Including AI and machine learning approaches can help.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About A J&J Cough Syrup, A Pfizer And Moderna Patent Suit, And More
A Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup found to contain unsafe levels of a toxic industrial solvent was sold in six African countries.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About An OptumRx Contract, 340B Dispute Resolution, And More
Cardinal Health announced its pharmaceutical distribution contracts with UnitedHealth's OptumRx unit will not be renewed after they expire in June.

Related Books & Audiobooks