Jenny & the Eddies

Last updated
AuthorRichard Clinghan
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish
SubjectFiction dealing with real issues
Published1 January 2020
Media typeComic
ISBN 9780473529895

Jenny & the Eddies is a comic book that promotes vaccine safety and confronts conspiracy theorists who oppose their use. Created by New Zealand-based general practitioner Richard Clinghan and published in 2020, it is a fairy tale with colourful drawings likely to appeal to young children and but also has a deeper message about the importance of vaccinations which would be relevant to teenagers and adults. Written initially to counter misinformation about the measles vaccine, the comic has received media attention because of its relevance to COVID-19.

Contents

Background

Richard Clinghan Richard Clinghan.jpg
Richard Clinghan

Richard Clinghan was born in Northern Ireland and in 2010 moved to New Zealand where he works as a General Practitioner and Rural Hospital Medicine Generalist at the Oxford Community Health Centre (New Zealand). [1] [2]

He was inspired to create Jenny & the Eddies after the New Zealand 2019 measles epidemic to have in his waiting room to reassure parents that vaccines were safe. [3] Clinghan said the goal was to encourage those who were resistant to vaccines, to get vaccinated. [4]

Clinghan acknowledged that he did a lot of work on the comic in lockdown in New Zealand during COVID-19, and said the initiative was an attempt to connect with both children and parents to alleviate concerns about vaccines in a creative way. [5]

Clinghan received support from Funtime Comics - a nonprofit group of comic creators established in 1991 by students at the University of Canterbury. [6] He told Funtime that he had been influenced by Scott McCloud because his works Making Comics and Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art showed how comics worked and that they could be "magical" and encourage the use of the imagination. [7] Clinghan concluded that "drawing can help ease your mind, settle your worries and give you an opportunity to find a moment to refocus on things that add the most value to your life. This is usually your family and friends". [7] : p.4 

Clinghan contributed a segment of Jenny & the Eddies and a comic White Blood Cells and Blueprint, to the 2020 Funtime issue, funtimecomics#33:Tales from Pandemia (comics inspired by the global coronavirus pandemic). [8]

According to Zahra Shahtahmasebi, Jenny & the Eddies was first launched at the Christchurch Armageddon Expo in July 2020. [9]

Theme

The book's theme is that vaccines have been scientifically proven to be safe and are a victim of their own success. The storyline offers the opportunity for characters to come to the realisation that vaccines can take care of themselves and only need to be trusted by people. The text challenges the reader to imagine how viruses and vaccines might interact if they had human behaviours and qualities. [10] Viruses are monsters that silently attack and cause suffering, while a vaccine is a dog that is always loyal and protective of people. Jenny & the Eddies promotes vaccine safety and reassures concerned parents in a non-confrontational manner. Clinghan has said he preferred not to discuss conspiracy theories directly, [4] but the comic does explore how anti-vaccination views can misguide parents and the storyline and characters create situations that expose misinformation about vaccines and how to stand up to these theories. [11]

Plot

When Jimmy gets sick in the elven kingdom after playing near the forest, the elven children share stories about when they were attacked by the forest monsters. Jenny asks her grandfather about the forest monsters and he says they had always been around, but wonders why 'each monster only visits a child once in a lifetime'. Jenny reads a book left out by her grandpa that tells of a legend about a beast in the forest that can protect elves from the monsters and she goes in search of it. While in the forest, she gets saved from the monsters by a friendly 'dog-like' creature that she takes home and names, Eddie. It becomes known that there are more Eddies in the forest and soon most of the elves in the kingdom have one, and are all well and happy. But later some of the elves begin sharing stories about the Eddies, saying they are causing problems and there is a move to stop giving them to the children. In particular, Jeremy tells lies about the Eddies and even says they make the children whistle – something the kingdom has previously complained about. Jeremy tries to trick the community into believing that if the Eddies are split into three, the forest monsters will be scared of them and the kingdom will be safe. When the children in the kingdom start making beautiful music, the elves realise that they were so infatuated with blaming the Eddies for causing the whistling, that they didn't put their energies into helping the children control it. The whistling was something that the elves would all do together to drown out the whisper monsters and ignore their lies so that eventually, they would go away. When enough elves believe this, happiness returns to the kingdom.

Reception

The comic was widely covered in New Zealand news media. Urzila Carlson on a New Zealand current affairs talk show The Project saw the comic book as an attempt to correct fake news about vaccines by approaching the issue in a whole new way, while co-host Jesse Mulligan acknowledged that Clinghan had gone to a "lot of trouble to convince people that vaccines work". [12] Journalist Peter Mckenzie writing in Stuff, said Clinghan's experience illustrated a "growing concern in New Zealand’s medical community: that if and when our vaccine roll-out begins, conspiratorial thinking will prevent the country from reaching a critical mass where it’s safe to re-open the borders or lead to more deaths when we do". [13] In another article it was noted that Clinghan had received a positive review on his Facebook page from John Gillies, a retired physician who is also an artist. [3]

Jenny & the Eddies was officially approved and endorsed by the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), an organisation at the University of Auckland that provides factual information nationwide to New Zealanders about vaccines and immunisation. [5] [6]

The New Zealand Doctor headlined [that Clinghan] was "mixing science and art to help patients make informed vaccine decisions". [9]

On 26 January 2021 when Jacinda Ardern the New Zealand Prime Minister announced that a vaccine was likely to be in the country within a week, Clinghan stated that "the vaccine will defend itself – calling people crazy or stupid will never change their mind." [14] By 24 March 2011, when the rollout of the vaccine for COVID-19 in New Zealand was underway, Duncan Garner on The AM Show suggested that the comic format was an effective way for people to learn, and Jenny & the Eddies could break down barriers. [4]

Noelle Reyes, in a review on the pop culture site AIPT Science, said that "Clinghan's story and art present a refreshing and vibrant narrative on viruses and vaccines...[and the comic is]...an enjoyable read for young kids to learn more about vaccines and viruses in an engaging, non-threatening manner". [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine hesitancy</span> Reluctance or refusal to be vaccinated or have ones children vaccinated

Vaccine hesitancy is a delay in acceptance, or refusal, of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services and supporting evidence. The term covers refusals to vaccinate, delaying vaccines, accepting vaccines but remaining uncertain about their use, or using certain vaccines but not others. The scientific consensus that vaccines are generally safe and effective is overwhelming. Vaccine hesitancy often results in disease outbreaks and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, the World Health Organization characterizes vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten global health threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funtime Comics</span> Collective of comic book artists and writers

Funtime Comics is a Christchurch, New Zealand based collective of comic artists and writers whose aim is to provide a forum for the promotion and discussion of the comic medium, promote New Zealand comics and encourage local writers and artists through the publishing of their own comics. Funtime publishes the Funtime Comics Anthology, and a variety of other comics, many of which are collaborative efforts, featuring stories and artwork from local and international comics artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt King (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Ronald Matthew King is a New Zealand politician who was a Member of Parliament for the National Party from 2017 to 2020. During his time as an opposition MP, King's roles included membership of the Justice, Māori Affairs, and Transport and Infrastructure Select Committees, and National's spokesperson for Regional Development, Rural Communities, and Transport. While in parliament he promoted a bill to create a new offense for "king hits" but it was defeated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–2020 New Zealand measles outbreak</span> Measles epidemic affecting New Zealand

The 2019–2020 New Zealand measles outbreak was an epidemic that affected New Zealand, primarily the Auckland region. The outbreak was the worst epidemic in New Zealand since an influenza epidemic in 1999, and is the worst measles epidemic since 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in New Zealand

The COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first case of the disease in New Zealand was reported on 28 February 2020. The country recorded over 2,274,370 cases. Over 3,000 people died as a result of the pandemic, with cases recorded in all twenty district health board (DHB) areas. The pandemic first peaked in early April 2020, with 89 new cases recorded per day and 929 active cases. Cases peaked again in October 2021 with 134 new cases reported on 22 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania</span> Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Oceania on 25 January 2020 with the first confirmed case reported in Melbourne, Australia. The virus has spread to all sovereign states and territories in the region. Australia and New Zealand were praised for their handling of the pandemic in comparison to other Western nations, with New Zealand and each state in Australia wiping out all community transmission of the virus several times even after re-introduction in the community.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached the Marshall Islands on 28 October 2020, but remained confined to quarantined arrivals until August 2022. The first known community transmission cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Majuro on August 8, 2022, ending the country's COVID-free status. The first confirmed death from COVID-19 in the Marshall Islands occurred on August 11, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Public Party</span> Unregistered political party in New Zealand

The New Zealand Public Party was a short-lived political party in New Zealand led by Billy Te Kahika. It was founded in June 2020, and two months later became a component party of registered party Advance New Zealand in order to contest the 2020 election. Advance received only 1.0% of the party vote and neither Advance nor Public won any electorate seats, so the Public Party did not win any representation in Parliament. The Public Party split from Advance shortly after the election acrimoniously, and Public's party secretary and director both resigned in January 2021.

Nicola Mary Turner is a New Zealand public health advocate who is a Professor at the University of Auckland and Medical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, an organisation that advises the New Zealand medical profession and the New Zealand Government. She has contributed to advisory committees for the New Zealand Ministry of Health, is a spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group and works in general practice. Much of her research and outreach has focused on improving immunisation coverage and closing equity gaps for the national schedule vaccine delivery in New Zealand and she has commented publicly on these issues during COVID-19 in New Zealand.

There have been several COVID-19 protests in New Zealand held since 2020, where people protested the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, in particular the lockdown measures in place in March–May 2020, August 2020, and August–November 2021 and the later vaccine mandates. Most politicians both within and outside of Government and the vast majority of people have condemned these protests and view them as grandstanding by the organisers, and fear they may have spread the virus.

Helen Aspasia Petousis-Harris is a New Zealand vaccinologist and associate professor in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland. She has been involved in research related to vaccination in New Zealand since 1998, with her main areas of focus being vaccine safety and effectiveness. Petousis-Harris has had a variety of lead roles in New Zealand and international organisations that focus on vaccination and is a regular media spokesperson in this field, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand</span> Ongoing COVID-19 vaccine programme in New Zealand

COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand began on 20 February 2021, and will continue throughout the pandemic with the goal of vaccinating all willing New Zealanders aged 5 or older. Those aged 5 to 11 require a parent, caregiver or legal guardian accompany them to their appointment and provide consent for them to be vaccinated. As of 1 September, anyone in New Zealand, regardless of their immigration status, is eligible to be vaccinated.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) is a New Zealand-wide organisation which provides information and training about immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases to health care professionals, government bodies, and individuals. It co-ordinates the nation's immunisation programmes, policy advice and research. It was launched in 1997, and is based at The University of Auckland.

Claire Ann Deeks is a New Zealand anti-vaccine activist who has challenged the government's response to COVID-19. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Advance NZ party in the 2020 general election, and set up the group Voices for Freedom (VFF), which distributed pamphlets that have been criticised by experts as containing COVID-19 misinformation about vaccines, lockdown and the wearing of masks. As a food blogger, Deeks promoted the paleo diet and "healthy" lunchboxes for children, and developed a petition to stop the rating system for foods used by the NZ and Australian governments. She is a former intellectual property lawyer.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in Fiji on the first quarter of 2021 and will continue throughout the year with the goal of vaccinating all eligible Fijians. The government has made it mandatory for all eligible adults to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and hesitancy</span> Misinformation regarding the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and the resulting hesitancy towards it

Anti-vaccination activists and other people in many countries have spread a variety of unfounded conspiracy theories and other misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines based on misunderstood or misrepresented science, religion, and law. These have included exaggerated claims about side effects, misrepresentations about how the immune system works and when and how COVID-19 vaccines are made, a story about COVID-19 being spread by 5G, and other false or distorted information. This misinformation has proliferated and may have made many people averse to vaccination. This has led to governments and private organizations around the world introducing measures to incentivize or coerce vaccination, such as lotteries, mandates, and free entry to events, which has in turn led to further misinformation about the legality and effect of these measures themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sue Grey (lawyer)</span> New Zealand lawyer and anti-vaccination conspiracy activist

Susan Jane Grey is a political figure and environmental lawyer in Nelson, New Zealand. She is the co-leader of the NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party and of Freedoms NZ. She is known for promoting medicinal cannabis rights and opposing COVID-19 vaccination, 5G technology, and the use of 1080, frequently sharing misinformation on social media about the effectiveness of COVID vaccination.

My Vaccine Pass was a vaccine certificate issued by the New Zealand Government that served as an official record of one's COVID-19 vaccination status during the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine pass was required to enter hospitality venues, community, sport and faith-based gatherings, as a result of the COVID-19 Protection Framework having come into effect on 3 December 2021. The passes expired on 1 June 2022.

<i>Counterspin Media</i>

Counterspin Media is a far-right, anti-vaccine, and conspiracy theorist New Zealand online media platform that was founded in May 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voices for Freedom</span> Anti-vaccination group in New Zealand

Voices for Freedom (VFF) is an anti-vaccine advocacy group in New Zealand that formed in December 2020 to oppose the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 mitigation policies and vaccination rollout. The organisation is founded and led by food blogger and former Advance New Zealand candidate Claire Deeks, Libby Jonson and Alia Bland. Voices for Freedom has been criticised by NZ Skeptics, The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman, and "FACT Aotearoa" for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccinations.

References

  1. ↑ Oxford Community Health Centre. "About - Doctors". Oxford Health. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "GP Richard tackling 'vaccine myths' in fun comic book". The Banbridge Chronicle. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 Topp, Shelly (23 November 2020). "'Stand up for truth and confront conspiracy theorists': Doctor inspired to write book". Otago Daily Times. North Canterbury News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Andelane, Lana (24 March 2020). "COVID-19: Kiwi GP frustrated by 'resistant' parents releases comic book to convey benefits of vaccination". Newshub. The AM Show. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 Fyfe, James (18 November 2020). "How one rural GP is using comics to teach children about vaccines and viruses". Newshub. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Rural GP Publishes Comic About Vaccination To Counter Growing Anti-Vac Movement". Scoop Health. 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. 1 2 Clinghan, Richard (2020). Twenty Twenty has been a terrible year! (Guest Editor Richard Clinghan). Funtime Comics. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Press Release. "Funtime Comics & Art Zine Presents: Tales from Pandemia #33". funtimecomics.nz. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. 1 2 Shahtahmasebi, Zahra (12 August 2020). "GP's comic enterprise: Mixing science and art to help patients make informed vaccine decisions". New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "Jenny and the Eddies: A Comic about Viruses and Vaccines". Waimakariri Libraries. 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Jenny and the Eddies". Big Cartel. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Wu, Crystal (23 November 2020). "New Zealand doctor hopes to tackle 'brewing distrust' of vaccines with comic book". Newshub Live. The Project. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  13. ↑ McKenzie, Peter (24 January 2021). "Covid-19: Doctor using comics to confront vaccine conspiracy theories". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  14. ↑ Cooke, Henry (26 January 2021). "Covid-19: PM says government approval for Pfizer vaccine possible next week". stuff. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Reyes, Noelle (3 May 2021). "'Jenny & the Eddies' is a thoughtful commentary on viruses and vaccines". aiptcomics. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.