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In the name of science and our wellbeing, please direct anyone you know who has good faith concerns to the NOVA episode Calling The Shots: http://www.youtube.c

In the name of science and our wellbeing, please direct anyone you know who has good faith concerns to the NOVA episode Calling The Shots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xm9mZ9j-oQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xm9mZ9j-oQ It's very accessible, and doesn't simply dismiss those who are anti-vaccine. Of course as with many NOVA episodes this one is fascinating regardless of your viewpoint.

Alex3917 12y ago
It seems odd to use polio as the example of a vaccine success story, while leaving out the recent resurgence of polio that's been caused by Obama using vaccines as part of his secret assassination program. Also not mentioned, the fact that government vaccination programs in Africa are thought to be one of the key elements behind HIV becoming a global epidemic. Or the fact that vaccine makers are frequently indemnified from safety lawsuits. I'm not saying that vaccines are a net negative, but the idea that all the problems with vaccines are somehow magically explained away by 'science' seems disingenuous. This program does mention that vaccines aren't perfect, merely better than the alternative, and yet doesn't even get into any of the real problems. edit: Even strictly in terms of the science, this doesn't address any of the major open questions. E.g. all of the research I've seen suggests that while getting a flu vaccine makes you less likely to die in the current year, it actually reduces your longterm immunity. (Since flu vaccines only give immunity for a few months, whereas getting the actual flu can confer some resistance for decades.) So what does the risk/benefit look like over the course of a lifetime? Obviously if you're 90 then longterm resistance is irrelevant, but what if you're, say, 20 and in good health?
- dinkumthinkum 12y ago
  This is really hard to take. I think you should seek medical attention and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. Do you not find the fact that you "know" about this alleged "secret assassination program" even partially contradictory?
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - cc439 12y ago
    We found Osama bin Laden using a Pakistani polio vaccination program as a screen and that was highly secretive until it's role was leaked. That's not something you can dispute, the rest of it may be craziness though.
    - Alex3917 12y ago
      I mean it takes about 30 seconds of googling to verify everything that I said, e.g.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_HIV/AIDS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_HIV/AIDS http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/health/cia-vaccine-ruse-in-pakistan-may-have-harmed-polio-fight.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/health/cia-vaccine-ruse-in... http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2014/10/30/ebola-vaccine-and-treatment-makers-need-liability-protection/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2014/10/30/ebola-vaccine-and... But no, apparently anyone who actually reads books and/or the news is crazy.
  - FeeTinesAMady 12y ago
    You tell him he should seek medical attention because he has an opinion you disagree with and you think that's respectful?
  - dang 12y ago
    > I think you should seek medical attention No personal attacks on Hacker News, please.

Alex3917 12y ago

It seems odd to use polio as the example of a vaccine success story, while leaving out the recent resurgence of polio that's been caused by Obama using vaccines as part of his secret assassination program. Also not mentioned, the fact that government vaccination programs in Africa are thought to be one of the key elements behind HIV becoming a global epidemic. Or the fact that vaccine makers are frequently indemnified from safety lawsuits. I'm not saying that vaccines are a net negative, but the idea that all the problems with vaccines are somehow magically explained away by 'science' seems disingenuous. This program does mention that vaccines aren't perfect, merely better than the alternative, and yet doesn't even get into any of the real problems. edit: Even strictly in terms of the science, this doesn't address any of the major open questions. E.g. all of the research I've seen suggests that while getting a flu vaccine makes you less likely to die in the current year, it actually reduces your longterm immunity. (Since flu vaccines only give immunity for a few months, whereas getting the actual flu can confer some resistance for decades.) So what does the risk/benefit look like over the course of a lifetime? Obviously if you're 90 then longterm resistance is irrelevant, but what if you're, say, 20 and in good health?

dinkumthinkum 12y ago
This is really hard to take. I think you should seek medical attention and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. Do you not find the fact that you "know" about this alleged "secret assassination program" even partially contradictory?
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- cc439 12y ago
  We found Osama bin Laden using a Pakistani polio vaccination program as a screen and that was highly secretive until it's role was leaked. That's not something you can dispute, the rest of it may be craziness though.
  - Alex3917 12y ago
    I mean it takes about 30 seconds of googling to verify everything that I said, e.g.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_HIV/AIDS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_HIV/AIDS http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/health/cia-vaccine-ruse-in-pakistan-may-have-harmed-polio-fight.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/health/cia-vaccine-ruse-in... http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2014/10/30/ebola-vaccine-and-treatment-makers-need-liability-protection/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2014/10/30/ebola-vaccine-and... But no, apparently anyone who actually reads books and/or the news is crazy.
- FeeTinesAMady 12y ago
  You tell him he should seek medical attention because he has an opinion you disagree with and you think that's respectful?
- dang 12y ago
  > I think you should seek medical attention No personal attacks on Hacker News, please.