Below is a news report from Australia about a baby who died from whooping cough, which, along with measles, is making a comeback in parts of that country. The reason? A growing percentage of chlidren who aren't getting vaccinated.
One of the interviewees is a woman who runs a "vaccination education" group that preaches homeopathic treatments instead of vaccinations. Among the brilliance on display in her segments is the idea that measles and whooping cough "weren't killing peopole 30 years ago so why should they kill people now".
Of course, this is largely true but only because the vacccine for measles was introduced in 1963 and the pertussis vaccine was in widespread use by the late 1940's. Before that, those diseases killed plenty of people.
And while it is also true that the mortality rates from these diseases were declining significantly before the introduction of mass vaccinations, this was undoubtedly due to the increased availablity and technical advancement of medical care. Not frigging homeopathy. You know who was still dying from these diseases after mass vaccinations? The people who weren't getting vaccinated.
(Don't watch this if you don't want to become angry and punch a homeopathist.)
(Thanks to RTftLC)
Yep, you're right. It made me angry. Perhaps those not getting vaccinated is one way of nature weeding out the gene pool. Natural selection of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI had to stop watching at around 1:30. Maybe I'll see if I can stomach the rest of it later.
ReplyDeleteOk, I calmed down and watched the rest, but I'm still pretty angry so forgive me if I ramble. Diabetes after vaccinations? I wonder if she is referring to a theory that getting the chicken pox virus MIGHT trigger juvenile diabetes...but if that is what she's referring to, it's important to note that 1) it's a new theory that is being researched and is not a medical fact, and 2) wouldn't that be a just reason for the vaccination?! Prevent the disease, thereby preventing diabetes?
ReplyDeleteI appreciated the point that there are children that are too young to receive the immunization, or have compromised immune systems that do not allow them to get immunized. Those people have to depend on "herd immunizations." And regarding the autism link, I know there are people that truly believe a vaccination caused their child's autism, but it has been proven that Andrew Wakefield fudged his data on that claim.
Even my vegan, "hippie" brother had my niece vaccinated and thinks homeopathic remedies are a bunch of crap. Vegan! Hippie!
One of the main reasons for giving the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine is because the varicella virus can remain dormant in the nerve ganglion for years, then reactivate at any point in the future and cause shingles, which is incredibly painful. Those who receive the vaccine will not only most likely avoid chicken pox, but shingles as well. Young people can and do get shingles, it's not just for "old" people.
And just for fun, here's a link to a pretty funny pro-vaccination TV ad:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/02/best_pro-vaccine_commercial_ever.php
Now that's a post. Thanks Pascha! Science in its purest form. The problem nowadays is that the name of the (science) game too often is grant money,and that money too often comes with political strings attached.
ReplyDeleteI'm not talking about republican vs democrat, although it's often framed that way. I'm talking about the politics within the scientific community where backing the right theory (or more accurately, the right theorist) can get you the grant or the spot on the research team or the tenured position at the university. All this serves to take away the core tenets of science, i.e., create a testable theory, test it, refine it, and throw it away when (if) a better one comes along. Above all, go where the evidence leads rather than find the evidence to support the theory.
And you're completely right about a small minority of children needing to get their protection via the immunization of others.
Again, great post!