This week, I want to talk about why this topic is so important. Why does the debate matter? Why are vaccines so important to me?
Science clearly says why immunisation is important. There have been thousands of studies done on their safety, effectiveness and even the ingredients. Their importance is shown time and again when the coverage rate for a certain vaccine drops. Mumps outbreak in Auckland earlier this year. Numerous schools closed last year throughout New Zealand. Whenever an infant dies because of some unvaccinated child, the importance of immunisation is revealed.
However, the anti-science crowd somehow think there is a conspiracy. There are no reputable studies to be found to say why you shouldn't vaccinate. There are endless books, YouTube channels, websites funded by natural/alternative medicines to say why the pharmaceutical companies are all out to get them. Doctors are to be feared and mistrusted too, except for the ones that agree with them. Doctors like Mercola, Tenpenny, ex-doctor Wakefield.
The recent propaganda film, Vaxxed has been doing the rounds, with the tour bus following in its destructive wake. Australia has banned the pro-disease activist, Polly Tommey, who called doctors "murderers". Recently in Australia, they have passed a law that means you can't send your child to school unless they're fully immunized, the very topic I'm writing for. Their vaccination rates have increased to safer levels, much to the pro-diseasers' dismay. We may recall a few months back, when the Vaxxed film was screened here in New Zealand and they were met by 2014 New Zealander of the year, Dr Lance O'Sullivan's indignant response. He was invited to the event by a fellow doctor and was disgusted to see these people flouting such science denialism, endangering children's lives with their lies.
Anti-vaccine rhetoric is dangerous and a threat to our safety. We, as science enthusiasts, teachers, students or professionals, need to stand up against this abuse of science and keep arguing.
4 comments:
Hi Shaun,
I really enjoy reading your blogs. You seem to have taken a very definite approach to the subject and feel very strongly about it. Your blogs are always interesting for us to read.
Looking forward to reading your position paper!
Bridget
Hey Shaun,
I am very much looking forward to your paper if it will be available for reading. The subject is being fought every hour of every day, my timeline through Facebook is clogged up from so many being involved with debates and arguments over this topic.
As I have children I have been quietly keeping an eye on it, probably not nearly as much as I should.
Love the post again mate.
Ryan
Hi Shaun,
Really powerful writing, I support full vaccinations all the way. That is not your choice to make that your child should potentially died of a painful but treatable illness.
Jade
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your fantastic comments. This has been a topic of interest for me ever since I found out there was opposition to vaccination, a number of years ago. I had always thought it "the done thing".
Writing about this topic in a scientific setting has been incredibly enjoyable. Trying to get it all to fit into 1200 words has been a challenge, but I'm almost there.
I'm looking forward to working on our next assignment together.
Shaun
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