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I think there's a relationship but it's tenuously stated. Anti-vax is in part due to an erosion of trust in our experts and institutions. This case is a prime e

I think there's a relationship but it's tenuously stated. Anti-vax is in part due to an erosion of trust in our experts and institutions. This case is a prime example. You have people that have been poisoned for decades by their government. It's no surprise to me that a person who can't trust the safety of her own drinking water is reluctant to receive government-sponsored injections.

DoreenMichele 8y ago
It's no surprise to me that a person who can't trust the safety of her own drinking water is reluctant to receive government-sponsored injections. I'm not an antivaxxer. I've had my vaccines, though I no longer get annual flu shots and lots of people are very quick to demonize me as an antivaxxer over that detail. it's tenuously stated. I've tried to improve the clarity of that one paragraph in my above remark.
- jorgesborges 8y ago
  Sorry to hear about your circumstances and I wish you luck. Just wanted to say my intention wasn't to criticize you personally or to make any assumptions. I think it's unfair how you're being flagged. I'll try to clarify my point as well for anyone else: We should probably be more open to discussing the experiences that motivate anti-vaxers rather than attacking or dismissing them in a way that serves to strengthen their convictions.
- poizan42 8y ago
  > though I no longer get annual flu shots and lots of people are very quick to demonize me as an antivaxxer over that detail. I assume you are american? Here on the other side of the pond (I'm in Denmark) the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get. Translated from https://www.ssi.dk/vaccinationer/influenzavaccination/sporgsmal-og-svar-om-influenzavaccination https://www.ssi.dk/vaccinationer/influenzavaccination/sporgs...: > Why is vaccination not recommended for everyone? > Vaccination against influenza is given for the prevention of serious influenza disease or complications. In younger, healthy adults, vaccination will also prevent disease caused by the specific influenza strains in the vaccine. However, influenza does not pose a serious threat to the health of younger healthy people.
  - rsync 8y ago
    "the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get." This is correct and normal. The influenza shot is for specific populations of immune-compromised people. Normal, healthy children and adults do not need the influenza shot. The influenza shot has nothing to do with the (ridiculous) anti-vaccine "debate". It does not belong in the same conversation as, for instance, the MMR or whooping cough vaccines, etc.
  - DoreenMichele 8y ago
    I assume you are american? Here on the other side of the pond (I'm in Denmark) the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get. I happen to be American, yes. But, I think we have the same policy here. However, given my diagnosis, it is recommended for people like me. I handle my vulnerability to infection by working from home, avoiding large crowds and so forth. (I can't remember the last time I had the flu.) Correction: We used to have the same policy here. From the CDC website: CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm When I was growing up, vaccination levels were talked about in terms of success. "We have successfully vaccinated 90 percent of people." These days, they are talked about in terms of failure. "We have failed to vaccinate 10 percent of people." This is often followed up by classifying that last 10 percent as antivaxxers, nutters, holdouts, etc. The reality is that there can be legitimate medical reasons why one chooses to not vaccinate. But this has become such a politicized topic that such people tend to get lumped in with "crazy antivaxxers." Having spent time in the antivax community, I feel they largely exist because of that. If families with a known history of problems or simply personal concerns had their choices respected without so much public outcry and so many strangers butting into their (HIPAA protected) medical choices, I think you would probably see a lot less antivax propaganda. People who feel that vaccines are a problem for them and their kids would handle it a lot more quietly. FWIW, I get demonized by both camps. You can't currently have a moderate position on this topic. Antivaxxers hate me and vilify me just as much as anti-antivaxxers.
  - lostlogin 8y ago
    The vaccination is also recommended for some professional groups, eg healthcare workers.

DoreenMichele 8y ago

It's no surprise to me that a person who can't trust the safety of her own drinking water is reluctant to receive government-sponsored injections. I'm not an antivaxxer. I've had my vaccines, though I no longer get annual flu shots and lots of people are very quick to demonize me as an antivaxxer over that detail. it's tenuously stated. I've tried to improve the clarity of that one paragraph in my above remark.

jorgesborges 8y ago
Sorry to hear about your circumstances and I wish you luck. Just wanted to say my intention wasn't to criticize you personally or to make any assumptions. I think it's unfair how you're being flagged. I'll try to clarify my point as well for anyone else: We should probably be more open to discussing the experiences that motivate anti-vaxers rather than attacking or dismissing them in a way that serves to strengthen their convictions.
poizan42 8y ago
> though I no longer get annual flu shots and lots of people are very quick to demonize me as an antivaxxer over that detail. I assume you are american? Here on the other side of the pond (I'm in Denmark) the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get. Translated from https://www.ssi.dk/vaccinationer/influenzavaccination/sporgsmal-og-svar-om-influenzavaccination https://www.ssi.dk/vaccinationer/influenzavaccination/sporgs...: > Why is vaccination not recommended for everyone? > Vaccination against influenza is given for the prevention of serious influenza disease or complications. In younger, healthy adults, vaccination will also prevent disease caused by the specific influenza strains in the vaccine. However, influenza does not pose a serious threat to the health of younger healthy people.
- rsync 8y ago
  "the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get." This is correct and normal. The influenza shot is for specific populations of immune-compromised people. Normal, healthy children and adults do not need the influenza shot. The influenza shot has nothing to do with the (ridiculous) anti-vaccine "debate". It does not belong in the same conversation as, for instance, the MMR or whooping cough vaccines, etc.
- DoreenMichele 8y ago
  I assume you are american? Here on the other side of the pond (I'm in Denmark) the flu shot is only being recommended for weakened and old people and is not generally something that people get. I happen to be American, yes. But, I think we have the same policy here. However, given my diagnosis, it is recommended for people like me. I handle my vulnerability to infection by working from home, avoiding large crowds and so forth. (I can't remember the last time I had the flu.) Correction: We used to have the same policy here. From the CDC website: CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm When I was growing up, vaccination levels were talked about in terms of success. "We have successfully vaccinated 90 percent of people." These days, they are talked about in terms of failure. "We have failed to vaccinate 10 percent of people." This is often followed up by classifying that last 10 percent as antivaxxers, nutters, holdouts, etc. The reality is that there can be legitimate medical reasons why one chooses to not vaccinate. But this has become such a politicized topic that such people tend to get lumped in with "crazy antivaxxers." Having spent time in the antivax community, I feel they largely exist because of that. If families with a known history of problems or simply personal concerns had their choices respected without so much public outcry and so many strangers butting into their (HIPAA protected) medical choices, I think you would probably see a lot less antivax propaganda. People who feel that vaccines are a problem for them and their kids would handle it a lot more quietly. FWIW, I get demonized by both camps. You can't currently have a moderate position on this topic. Antivaxxers hate me and vilify me just as much as anti-antivaxxers.
- lostlogin 8y ago
  The vaccination is also recommended for some professional groups, eg healthcare workers.