I Am Legend screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has spoken out to remind anti-vaxxers that his 2007 zombie movie is a work of fiction.
Goldsman made his statement in response to a New York Times article about vaccine resistance. According to the article, "One employee said she was concerned because she thought a vaccine had caused the characters in the film I Am Legend to turn into zombies."
The screenwriter tweeted in response, "Oh. My. God. It's a movie. I made that up. It's. Not. Real."
There are two points to keep in mind when discussing I Am Legend. First: the zombie apocalypse from the movie wasn't caused by a vaccine, but rather a genetically reprogrammed virus. Second: as Goldsman has reminded us, that movie was a work of fiction and should not be considered scientific data.
Let's defer to the actual experts [via canada.ca]: "Only vaccines that are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality are authorized for use in Canada. The COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested during their development and then carefully reviewed by Health Canada. The vaccines can't give you COVID-19 because they don't contain the virus that causes it. The vaccines also can't change your DNA."
Goldsman made his statement in response to a New York Times article about vaccine resistance. According to the article, "One employee said she was concerned because she thought a vaccine had caused the characters in the film I Am Legend to turn into zombies."
The screenwriter tweeted in response, "Oh. My. God. It's a movie. I made that up. It's. Not. Real."
Unfortunately, the vaccine skeptic featured in the New York Times article isn't the only one treating I Am Legend like a cautionary tale. Back in May, an interview subject told The Washington Post of I Am Legend, "I love that movie, for all kinds of reasons. But that was kind of scary. Don't want to be a zombie." Memes linking I Am Legend to the coronavirus vaccine have spread widely on social media.Oh. My. God. It's a movie. I made that up. It's. Not. Real.
— Akiva Goldsman (@AkivaGoldsman) August 9, 2021
There are two points to keep in mind when discussing I Am Legend. First: the zombie apocalypse from the movie wasn't caused by a vaccine, but rather a genetically reprogrammed virus. Second: as Goldsman has reminded us, that movie was a work of fiction and should not be considered scientific data.
Let's defer to the actual experts [via canada.ca]: "Only vaccines that are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality are authorized for use in Canada. The COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested during their development and then carefully reviewed by Health Canada. The vaccines can't give you COVID-19 because they don't contain the virus that causes it. The vaccines also can't change your DNA."