Don Lemon tweets shirtless selfie of “measles shot scar” — and gets mercilessly mocked

Why does Don Lemon still have a job?

By Joanna Rothkopf

(Credit: CNN)

The latest public health scare is the recent measles outbreak, which originated in Anaheim, Calif.’s Disneyland and has spread to 14 states thanks to the un- and under-vaccinated. Now, pundits and politicians are all weighing in on the issue of mandatory vaccinations, with sane, educated adults rightly promoting their universal use.
CNN’s Don Lemon, the same man who asked if a plane could have been swallowed by a black hole or other supernatural force, couldn’t resist chiming in. On Monday evening, he posted the below tweet:

My #measles shot scar from childhood. Do we still need it? Doctor answers on @CnnTonight 10pET. Use #VaccineQs pic.twitter.com/gjoXbRflFx
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 3, 2015

Thing one: I do not, under any circumstances, need to see Don’s chest hair. Thing two: Measles vaccinations don’t leave a scar, although the smallpox vaccine used to.

@donlemon @CNNTonight it's small pox scar, not MMR. MMR doesn't scar.
— Laurie Kempton (@mcsmartypants) February 3, 2015

@donlemon MMR vaccine doesnt leave a scar but nice shirtless selfie op
— real don delillo (@peenerad) February 3, 2015

@donlemon cmon bruh, that's from the smallpox vaccine. Smh...
— Major K (@MajorKMusic) February 3, 2015

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@mrobin032009 @donlemon @CNNTonight No, that's a smallpox scar. Nobody getting vaccines today will be scarred like that.
— SomeCallMeLaz (@SomeCallMeLaz) February 3, 2015

That's a smallpox scar. The disease is eradicated. MT: “@donlemon: My #measles shot scar. Do we still need it? pic.twitter.com/ahKSHT2Rnf”
— Rodney Finalle, MD (@thegrandfinalle) February 3, 2015

.@donlemon Don, that's a smallpox scar. MMR is a subQ injection that leaves NO scar. @CnnTonight
— prosediva (@prosediva) February 3, 2015

@DrJenGunter @Gus_802 @donlemon That is so obviously a smallpox vaccine scar to anyone with the slightest knowledge. #NotADoctor
— Barry Schwartz (@chemoelectric) February 3, 2015

The anchor later corrected his mistake, tweeting:

It's a smallpox scar but all given in the sane cluster. #VaccineQs
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 3, 2015

The only issue with that explanation is that the smallpox vaccination was stopped in 1972 when the disease was eradicated in the United States. Measles has obviously not been eradicated.

Why is Don Lemon still talking at us?

Joanna Rothkopf is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on science, health and society. Follow @JoannaRothkopf or email jrothkopf@salon.com.