No, reckless isn’t even strong enough.The categories seem to be as follows:1. Willfully ignorant: the people who believe the anti-vaxxers’ nonsense despite categorical proof that vaccines work and are not dangerous. (case in point: the person who supposedly showed a link between autism and vaccines was a FRAUD – wrote a paper with no data, in part to drum up business for his fake “autism therapy.” His paper was retracted, his doctorate stripped from him. HUGE studies since show that even the idea makes no sense.) Or people who think that it is somehow healthier to experience a potentially fatal disease than to build up immunity through vaccines (which use the body’s own systems).2. Arrogant and selfish: People who do seem to think vaccines work, but aren’t willing to administer them to their own children, so count on the good vaccination practices of others to protect THEIR children. This puts those unable to be vaccinated at risk, because of reduced herd immunity.
As Larry Wilmore noted, this is not a first-world problem. This is a third-world problem. Except, as Melinda Gates pointed out, people in third-world countries will walk “ten kilometers in the heat” to get their children vaccinated, because “they’ve seen death.”
Not altogether true. Although vaccines will increase resistance, they do not provide total immunity. If you are vaccinated against measles, for example, and are almost never near the measles germ, you won’t get measles. However, if you are surrounded by people with active measles cases, you are much more likely to contract measles, whether you have been vaccinated or not. So, although vaccinated children are less likely to contract those diseases, their odds of contracting them are much higher when in the company of those who are not vaccinated. Non-vaccinated kids are a danger to all children in their circles, not just themselves.So anti-vax parents are not only putting their own kids at risk, but the children of others. Talk about an undeserved feeling of privilege.
And let’s cut to the meat of the matter: who started this anti-vax movement? Jessica Simpson? Why would anyone expect her to know anything about medicine, and why would anyone be willing to risk the lives of their children because of what she had to say?
In a People-magazine world, way too many people listen to the wrong people for the wrong reasons.
If Kim Kardashian were to tell us we need to stop getting regular dental checkups, how many would be willing to let their teeth rot out of their mouths as a result?
“Play one” I think you’re thinking of Jenny McCarthy. There may have been some problems with mercury preservatives in some vaccines, since eliminated, but still NOT related to autism. Al Jazeera had a very good, and accurate, report with lots of medical experts from several specialties pointing ou that autism is being proven more with each new research to be GENETIC. Now environmental problems may contribute to mutations, but that’s NOT VACCINES! Interesting note btw, is they found that syblings with autism have variant forms and genetic linkages, which is VERY interesting from the standpoint of genetics, mutations, and yes, potential environments during early development of the fertilized embryo, or even the sperm and embryo themselves!
Even if it doesn’t eliminate the risk entirely though, doesn’t it lessen both the length and severity of the episode? That’s a serious question. I don’t know and have heard both sides of the argument.
Being of a certain age, I had several varieties of measles when I was a kid I can say that it was no fun. I think those who can take the vaccine should. Add in the chicken pox and that was 4-5 weeks of my life spent badly ill. Parents who don’t get their kids vaccinated ought to be arrested for child abuse. JMHO
I, too, am in favor of the vaccines in question, but that doesn’t mean that I think all medical practice is good. I would point to the overuse of antibiotics — though some of that is for meat production, rather than for human medicine.
Motivemagus over 9 years ago
No, reckless isn’t even strong enough.The categories seem to be as follows:1. Willfully ignorant: the people who believe the anti-vaxxers’ nonsense despite categorical proof that vaccines work and are not dangerous. (case in point: the person who supposedly showed a link between autism and vaccines was a FRAUD – wrote a paper with no data, in part to drum up business for his fake “autism therapy.” His paper was retracted, his doctorate stripped from him. HUGE studies since show that even the idea makes no sense.) Or people who think that it is somehow healthier to experience a potentially fatal disease than to build up immunity through vaccines (which use the body’s own systems).2. Arrogant and selfish: People who do seem to think vaccines work, but aren’t willing to administer them to their own children, so count on the good vaccination practices of others to protect THEIR children. This puts those unable to be vaccinated at risk, because of reduced herd immunity.
As Larry Wilmore noted, this is not a first-world problem. This is a third-world problem. Except, as Melinda Gates pointed out, people in third-world countries will walk “ten kilometers in the heat” to get their children vaccinated, because “they’ve seen death.”
I Play One On TV over 9 years ago
Not altogether true. Although vaccines will increase resistance, they do not provide total immunity. If you are vaccinated against measles, for example, and are almost never near the measles germ, you won’t get measles. However, if you are surrounded by people with active measles cases, you are much more likely to contract measles, whether you have been vaccinated or not. So, although vaccinated children are less likely to contract those diseases, their odds of contracting them are much higher when in the company of those who are not vaccinated. Non-vaccinated kids are a danger to all children in their circles, not just themselves.So anti-vax parents are not only putting their own kids at risk, but the children of others. Talk about an undeserved feeling of privilege.
And let’s cut to the meat of the matter: who started this anti-vax movement? Jessica Simpson? Why would anyone expect her to know anything about medicine, and why would anyone be willing to risk the lives of their children because of what she had to say?
In a People-magazine world, way too many people listen to the wrong people for the wrong reasons.
If Kim Kardashian were to tell us we need to stop getting regular dental checkups, how many would be willing to let their teeth rot out of their mouths as a result?
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
“Play one” I think you’re thinking of Jenny McCarthy. There may have been some problems with mercury preservatives in some vaccines, since eliminated, but still NOT related to autism. Al Jazeera had a very good, and accurate, report with lots of medical experts from several specialties pointing ou that autism is being proven more with each new research to be GENETIC. Now environmental problems may contribute to mutations, but that’s NOT VACCINES! Interesting note btw, is they found that syblings with autism have variant forms and genetic linkages, which is VERY interesting from the standpoint of genetics, mutations, and yes, potential environments during early development of the fertilized embryo, or even the sperm and embryo themselves!
warjoski Premium Member over 9 years ago
@I Play One on TV and Jase99
Even if it doesn’t eliminate the risk entirely though, doesn’t it lessen both the length and severity of the episode? That’s a serious question. I don’t know and have heard both sides of the argument.
pcolli over 9 years ago
I had the measels vaccine as a child and I have had measels twice since…. argue with various doctors, not with me.
Motivemagus over 9 years ago
I think he has. Have you?
wiatr over 9 years ago
Being of a certain age, I had several varieties of measles when I was a kid I can say that it was no fun. I think those who can take the vaccine should. Add in the chicken pox and that was 4-5 weeks of my life spent badly ill. Parents who don’t get their kids vaccinated ought to be arrested for child abuse. JMHO
lonecat over 9 years ago
I, too, am in favor of the vaccines in question, but that doesn’t mean that I think all medical practice is good. I would point to the overuse of antibiotics — though some of that is for meat production, rather than for human medicine.
lbatik over 9 years ago
You are not in the US, then?
LOLisgood4U over 9 years ago
That’s right, if they don’t get their kids vaccinated we should do like we are doing for noncompliance on Obamacare, fine them on their income tax.