Yesterday, I spoke about the flu- and the vaccine. The same disease that overtook the world 100 years ago when 500 million folks were struck by the flu. Almost 1/3 of every living soul on earth. Of those 500 million folks, about 20% perished. So, getting inoculated with the flu vaccine is not something to which one simply says “I pass”.
Neither does it make sense to not inoculate one’s kids for the diseases that ravage their lives. Polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria; all those diseases we have almost eradicated from our midst.
That next epidemic of measles or flu won’t be because the vaccine failed. It will be because too many folks make the bad decision to avoid the vaccines.
There are too many folks spreading lies. (This time I am not referring to TheDonald!)
The worst kind of lie is “bad science”. Like that promoted by the former physician Andrew Wakefield, with his BS about autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Yes, this nefarious man is still pushing his crap around- which is why America experienced a measles outbreak in Minnesota last year (2017).
But, it’s not just Wakefield and his wannabes. We have a bunch of folks out there that want to sell you books, services, or “things”. (OK. Wakefield is a member of this criminal crowd, too. As is the nurse Kathleen Dunkelberger. And Dr. Bob Sears. And Dr. Paul Thomas.) But, this group is more exemplified by Dr. Jennifer Margulis (Oh, yeah- her PhD is in American lit. Yes, she wants to sell you books.) Or, that bastion of scientific wisdom, Jenny McCarthy. (Her talent? A Playboy model).
Or folks that are hoping to kill off our population or drive political arguments. One of the biggest (and easiest) ways to do this is via social media. You guessed it- one of the primary sources for this trash are Russian bots. (Yup. It’s not just elections they are trying to foil.) I wrote about this earlier this year.
These all are the reasons behind the development of the Vaccine Confidence Project. Headed up by Dr. Heidi Larson (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), these folks are going to be our rapid response team. They seek out the beginnings of rumors and scares against vaccines. To stop them before they spread. The project is populated with a bunch of talented folks- epidemiologists, statisticians, anthropologists, etc.
Hopefully, they will be able to counteract all those quacks looking to make money by putting you at risk. Or, those Russian bots that want to destroy the West, so Putin can reclaim Russia as a great power.
Today is the next to last day. No, not to get the book that will help you discern how the new tax laws change your personal and business situation. The book will always do that. (OK. At least until 2026, according to our lawmakers.)
No, if you buy the paperback edition, generate two tweets, I will work with you to discern how you can best minimize your tax situation NOW. Before the end of the quarter- and the year, when it will be WAY too late to change your tax bill for 2018. The details of the offer can be found here.
Great post Roy! For the life of me I cannot understand people buying (literally) into this no vaccine stuff. It seems to me that these people have never experienced anything ‘deadly’ serious, like an outbreak or a war. What a luxury to complain about vaccines when you live in a safe (for now) part of the world…
LOL – and a writer and playboy model jumping on the ‘advice’ train. Anything to sell a book, eh (hahahahaha). It’s like this twit Paltrow with her goopie advice. Just the other day there was a conference in Vancouver organized by her brand, selling semi-quasi and plain bad medical advice. It was attended by hundreds and hundreds of people. Go figure. I think we live in a bubble here in the West when much of the world truly suffers. Bring on the hardship to change people’s mind…..(not really, but it is an interesting thought). By the way, love the title of the post. Can I steal it from you sometime……? Prutty please….
Thanks so much for adding those points to the conversation, Jessica! (I admit to emitting more than a few laughs as I read it.)
STFU is always available. It’s something a certain orange tainted individual certainly should heed!