Maureen McCormick, famously known as Marcia Brady, is not pleased with how her character’s image is being exploited by anti-vaccine advocates. The iconic show, The Brady Bunch, is being referenced by some to downplay the seriousness of measles, and McCormick is setting the record straight.
Recently, NPR reported that anti-vaxxers are citing the episode titled “Is There a Doctor in the House?” to suggest measles is harmless. In this classic installment from the early 1970s, all six Brady siblings catch the measles and engage in playful activities, such as coloring spots and enjoying a day off school. However, McCormick emphasizes that this portrayal is far from reality. “If you have to get sick, sure can’t beat the measles!” said Marcia in the episode, and now this line is being misused to support misleading claims about the disease.
A YouTube user even remarked, “I grew up in the 70s/80s; if you were going to get sick, it was just measles—like the common cold. Now we have this media scaremongering!” This misrepresentation has not gone unnoticed by McCormick, who expressed her outrage, stating, “It’s really wrong when people use people’s images today to promote whatever they want to promote… My daughter was vaccinated.”
Moreover, she clarified that her character’s experience with measles was not a fun one, recalling that it spread through her family. Lloyd J. Schwartz, son of the late Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz, echoed her sentiments, noting his father’s belief in vaccinations and how he ensured all his children were vaccinated.
This backlash comes at a crucial time, as measles outbreaks are surging across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 704 cases of measles nationally, with over 500 of those individuals unvaccinated—marking the highest number of outbreaks in 25 years. The CDC warns that measles is highly contagious and can be effectively prevented with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
In light of this, both health authorities and Marcia Brady herself urge parents to vaccinate their children. To learn more about pregnancy and related health topics, you can visit this excellent resource. For those exploring the journey of parenthood, check out our post about the home insemination kit to help you along the way. Additionally, if you’re interested in a home intracervical insemination syringe kit, it’s a great option to consider.
In summary, McCormick is not standing for her character’s legacy being misused by those against vaccinations. She and others are calling for responsible discourse on health, especially concerning diseases like measles that pose serious risks.
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