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Those vaccines were for diseases that were highly lethal, and also highly lethal to children (well, not varicella), and they had years of research behind their

Those vaccines were for diseases that were highly lethal, and also highly lethal to children (well, not varicella), and they had years of research behind their safety. Mass vaccination also effectively stopped transmission. Schools also allowed medical and religious exemptions, with California's recent removal of that option being very controversial.

seanmcdirmid 5y ago
The polio vaccine was mandated five years after it was invented, and that was in the early days of the field. Mass vaccination is the only way to stop transmission, of course, you just can’t have some people vaccinated and others not, vaccines don’t work like that. The exemptions have never been very deep (very few takers each year), but if they exceed something like 5%, then an adjustment must be made. Washington state for example, revoked personal and philosophical exemptions for MMR vaccines after an outbreak. Religious exemptions are still allowed, but those have a much higher bar than a philosophical exemption. Medical exemptions are always allowed, they are one major reason why most everyone else needs to get vaccinated in the first place (because people who can’t get the vaccine are at risk from transmission). I guess one could argue that everyone that wants to should get vaccinated to better protect those who don’t want to be vaccinated. That makes sense, but hardly seems fair.
- SamReidHughes 5y ago
  Five years. And that was Polio. Coronavirus isn't Polio.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    Yes, because polio was killing kids rather than older people with health problems. Also, they shut down a lot of infrastructure (like swimming pools) to prevent transmission before a vaccine controlled the problem, similar to are lockdowns and mask mandates today p. And you know, I’d like life to go back to normal, it’s just a quick needle prick.
    - SamReidHughes 5y ago
      Life already has gone back to normal.
      - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
        Oh, then I can finally book that trip to Tokyo I’ve been meaning to get to for a couple of years?
        SamReidHughes 5y ago
        Well I can book a trip to the non-neurotic portions of America.
        seanmcdirmid 5y ago
        Sure, but the rest of the world thinks those are the crazy places.

seanmcdirmid 5y ago

The polio vaccine was mandated five years after it was invented, and that was in the early days of the field. Mass vaccination is the only way to stop transmission, of course, you just can’t have some people vaccinated and others not, vaccines don’t work like that. The exemptions have never been very deep (very few takers each year), but if they exceed something like 5%, then an adjustment must be made. Washington state for example, revoked personal and philosophical exemptions for MMR vaccines after an outbreak. Religious exemptions are still allowed, but those have a much higher bar than a philosophical exemption. Medical exemptions are always allowed, they are one major reason why most everyone else needs to get vaccinated in the first place (because people who can’t get the vaccine are at risk from transmission). I guess one could argue that everyone that wants to should get vaccinated to better protect those who don’t want to be vaccinated. That makes sense, but hardly seems fair.

SamReidHughes 5y ago
Five years. And that was Polio. Coronavirus isn't Polio.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  Yes, because polio was killing kids rather than older people with health problems. Also, they shut down a lot of infrastructure (like swimming pools) to prevent transmission before a vaccine controlled the problem, similar to are lockdowns and mask mandates today p. And you know, I’d like life to go back to normal, it’s just a quick needle prick.
  - SamReidHughes 5y ago
    Life already has gone back to normal.
    - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
      Oh, then I can finally book that trip to Tokyo I’ve been meaning to get to for a couple of years?
      - SamReidHughes 5y ago
        Well I can book a trip to the non-neurotic portions of America.
        seanmcdirmid 5y ago
        Sure, but the rest of the world thinks those are the crazy places.