I think the main thing that gives the ridiculous anti-vaxx movement any traction is that very few people in favor of vaccination are willing to admit that we can, and do, over-vaccinate
Idk about that in particular, but I want to add: we treat all vaccines as the same in necessity. No, I am not going to get the shitty flu vaccine, nor is it necessary that I take the HPV vaccine on the off chance I get raped by someone who happens to have the viral strain to give that to me. Not all vaccines are equal, nor are they all necessary for every person.
That and downplaying the adverse effects when they DO happen. The vaccine movement needs to acknowledge these cases and advocate ways to improve them, rather than shrug and say “but its raaaaaare!”. The pro-vax movement is so lacking in empathy and it’s the main reason why I don’t reblog most of the posts on here about it.
I don’t know why you’d discredit my point and then provide specific examples of exactly what I’m talking about but annual flu vaccines and HPV and the like are not necessary and not only can potentially come with adverse affects like you mentioned but also can actually cause infection/the emergence of new strains entirely.
Now I’m not going to say I’ve got a real opinion on this particular case because I just don’t know enough to have one but, looking at polio in Nigeria is an interesting example because the vaccine is actually the source of exposure and subsequent infection in non-vaccinated individuals. Viral components are passed in feces and released into the environment, which is getting into the water and causing further infection. The introduction of the vaccine has created the necessity in a way.
There’s also the potential for mutation now that it’s just free in the environment like that.
A better example of mutation that comes to mind isn’t one that infects humans but rather canine parvovirus. Symptom wise, it’s basically ebola for dogs. That is a manufactured epidemic. It remains one of the single most common infectious diseases in dogs and it started as a mutant variant of Feline Panleukopenia Virus. A mutant strain that was able to jump hosts and become transmittable to dogs did not exist until the time cats began to get vaccinated for FPV. It emerged in two simultaneous epidemics in the US and the UK, the only places using the FPV vaccine at the time (to my knowledge, again not super well versed on this particular issue)
Unless you’re particularly susceptible there’s no reason to get a flu vaccine and the push for everyone to get one just creates the same mass exposure problem as the polio in Nigeria. More people have been exposed so there’s more of it in the environment. Herd immunity is a good thing but especially with epidemic vaccines you can’t really properly test and control to see your rates of infection from the vaccine itself. Especially a flu vaccine. Most people who get the flu are completely fine so it doesn’t really matter, the vaccine also should be taken about 2 weeks prior to exposure to actually be effective so there’s a high likelihood it can work and still not prevent infection. The streamlined process and lack of data leaves it open to say pretty much whatever anyone wants in terms of effectiveness. It’s equally possible that flu vaccines cause greater overall rates of infection rather than prevent it because we simply cannot track it.
I’m not saying don’t get the polio, measles, meningitis, etc vaccines that have been through multiple stages of clinical trials and proven effective. Just saying know what you’re getting and don’t take more than you need to.
The HPV one you mentioned in fact, gardasil, was the topic of a huge class action lawsuit. The creator was accuse of fast-tracking the process and in the end settled with just the first 49 victims for $6mil as of 2014.
Not really trying to discredit it, I just wasn’t sure if there would be a connection between over-vaccination and unnecessary vaccination since that is something I have not thought about, and with vaccines being as controversial as they are, I wanted to put in what I felt fully opinionated on before thinking about your own points.
Tag: vaccinations
I think the main thing that gives the ridiculous anti-vaxx movement any traction is that very few people in favor of vaccination are willing to admit that we can, and do, over-vaccinate
Idk about that in particular, but I want to add: we treat all vaccines as the same in necessity. No, I am not going to get the shitty flu vaccine, nor is it necessary that I take the HPV vaccine on the off chance I get raped by someone who happens to have the viral strain to give that to me. Not all vaccines are equal, nor are they all necessary for every person.
That and downplaying the adverse effects when they DO happen. The vaccine movement needs to acknowledge these cases and advocate ways to improve them, rather than shrug and say “but its raaaaaare!”. The pro-vax movement is so lacking in empathy and it’s the main reason why I don’t reblog most of the posts on here about it.
Thank you! Especially your second paragraph, Ginnie. Because there are families that, for some reason or another, have severe reactions to getting vaccinated (and through more than one generation). Which leads them to opt-out of vaccinations and serious research.
Idk about every state, but in my state it is mandated that a baby can’t leave the hospital after it’s been born until it’s had certain vaccinations. Forcing something isn’t the best way to advocate it…especially for families who are already wary due to personal history.
Wide Spread Interests 