What You Need to Know About the Anti-Vaxx Documentary That's About to Blow Up Your Facebook Feed

His name has sparked controversy for years, but even though Andrew Wakefield's medical license was stripped in 2010 and his supposedly "groundbreaking study" linking vaccinations and autism was debunked that same year (he was found guilty of "abuse of developmentally challenged children" and "dishonesty"), he's making headlines again thanks to a controversial new documentary he's premiering at next month's Tribeca Film Festival.

Wakefield, the father of the anti-vaxx movement, is riling up his followers and conspiracy theorists to support his documentary debut, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe. According to the Tribeca Film Festival's official guide, the film is described as: "Digging into the long-debated link between autism and vaccines, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe features revealing and emotional interviews with pharmaceutical insiders, doctors, politicians, parents, and one whistleblower to understand what's behind the skyrocketing increase of autism diagnoses today."

It makes no mention of the fact that Wakefield is not only behind the film but that he's also considered a disgrace to the medical community — a community that is now fighting a war against adults who are reluctant to vaccinate themselves or their kids. A growing community that's to blame for the recent measles and whooping cough outbreaks.

If that wasn't disturbing enough, the film also appears to feature Dr. Jim Sears, the pediatrician known for his role on The Doctors and for being part of the Sears family doctors who popularized attachment parenting techniques and adjusted vaccination schedules that counter the CDC's recommendations. The Sears family's support of the adjusted schedules has also been linked to the recent measles and whooping cough outbreaks. Sensing a backlash, Dr. Sears issued a statement stating that he is pro-vaccine but suggesting that there's a cover-up happening at the CDC.

The fact that such a notable venue as the Tribeca Film Festival is giving time and resources to a disgraced researcher is troubling, to say the least. According to the festival: "Tribeca, as most film festivals, are about dialogue and discussion. Over the years we have presented many films from opposing sides of an issue. We are a forum, not a judge."

That's true. But giving a known quack of a doctor the platform to espouse such dangerous beliefs is counter to the health of our community. The number of people who will now hear his views without knowing his background should be considered a public health hazard. Let's just hope sensible voices will prevail and healthy discussion will remind parents of the power of vaccines.