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Flu vaccines aren't about protecting your health, they're about protecting everyone's health. By not vaccinating, you're contributing to the elimination of herd

by danudey 12y ago

Flu vaccines aren't about protecting your health, they're about protecting everyone's health. By not vaccinating, you're contributing to the elimination of herd immunity[1], ensuring that people who cannot vaccinate for whatever reasons (too young, compromised immune system, egg allergy, etc) are at a significantly higher risk of contracting the disease and putting their lives at risk. Unfortunately, this isn't one of those situations where you can fence-sit, because fence-sitting means you don't get vaccinated, which undermines public health and allows for the accelerated spread of diseases that can cripple or kill other people. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity

Mz 12y ago
Cystic fibrosis patients are people who gradually die from antibiotic-resistant infections, something I no longer have. So I believe strongly that I am less of a health threat to others now than I was under conventional treatment of my condition. I have a compromised immune system. So it seems to me that by your own logic, I am someone entitled to not vaccinate.
- krschultz 12y ago
  Arguably you are the person that everyone else should be protecting with herd immunity. I'm surprised that you are ended up on the anti-vaccine side. I also have a (milder) set of incurable health problems that have led to hospitalizations and several surgeries. The anti-vaccine crowd drive me crazy because they literally lead to people like me and you ending up dead when preventable diseases get passed around. You don't have a great feeling with the doctors because they don't have all the answers for you, and it took along time to diagnosis your condition. I also had to deal with that 'why is this happening to me?' moment, and the doctor just shrugged. They don't have all the answers. But for the things that we do have answers for, not using those answers is crazy.
  - Mz 12y ago
    I'm surprised that stating one is "moderately anti-vax" and has chosen to forego the flu vaccine for themselves turns into such a train wreck on a discussion forum that prides itself on being logical. You and others here are behaving in a strongly reactionary fashion to very tame statements.
    - ChrisClark 12y ago
      The strong reaction is against anything that could spread the anti-vax idea. Because all it does is kill babies and people who can't get the vaccine, like you. It might have gone better if you stated that, because you can't get the vaccine, you believe everyone else who is able to should, so that you also remain protected. That's a very valid argument.
      - Mz 12y ago
        I don't have a position on what other people should or should not being doing in this regard. I have been too busy trying to not die to really be bothered to think too much about such things. And I am not thrilled with being told that this forum, where we are supposedly interested in engaging in serious intellectual discussion, is a place where I had damn well better tow the party line and not differentiate from it in the slightest or suffer the consequences. That is a policy of dictators, not scientists and intellectual elite. I will continue to speak my mind as I see fit and accept the downvotes, if necessary, thank you.
        Retric 12y ago
        Even on a mild discussion when you suggest sacrificing baby's people are going to react negatively. And yes, herd immunity from the flue vaccine does protect baby's so it really is that simple. PS: At best you can clam ignorance, but you really are suggesting direct harm to other people based on a gut feeling. And that's just not ok by most people.
hga 12y ago
Partly disagree in this case. So few people take the flu vaccine that there's no possibility of establishing general herd immunity, even if the experts guess right every flu season (this year they didn't for the Northern Hemisphere, or at least the US). On the smaller scale it's wise, e.g. now that I'm living with my 81 year old father, partly to help take care of him, that's an additional reason I take the vaccine.
- Retric 12y ago
  Targeted herd immunity works even at low levels. (Ex: staff at nursing homes.) The benifit it simply exponential (Assuming the vaccine is not 100% effective but transmission chances are low.)

by danudey 12y ago

Mz 12y ago

Cystic fibrosis patients are people who gradually die from antibiotic-resistant infections, something I no longer have. So I believe strongly that I am less of a health threat to others now than I was under conventional treatment of my condition. I have a compromised immune system. So it seems to me that by your own logic, I am someone entitled to not vaccinate.

krschultz 12y ago
Arguably you are the person that everyone else should be protecting with herd immunity. I'm surprised that you are ended up on the anti-vaccine side. I also have a (milder) set of incurable health problems that have led to hospitalizations and several surgeries. The anti-vaccine crowd drive me crazy because they literally lead to people like me and you ending up dead when preventable diseases get passed around. You don't have a great feeling with the doctors because they don't have all the answers for you, and it took along time to diagnosis your condition. I also had to deal with that 'why is this happening to me?' moment, and the doctor just shrugged. They don't have all the answers. But for the things that we do have answers for, not using those answers is crazy.
- Mz 12y ago
  I'm surprised that stating one is "moderately anti-vax" and has chosen to forego the flu vaccine for themselves turns into such a train wreck on a discussion forum that prides itself on being logical. You and others here are behaving in a strongly reactionary fashion to very tame statements.
  - ChrisClark 12y ago
    The strong reaction is against anything that could spread the anti-vax idea. Because all it does is kill babies and people who can't get the vaccine, like you. It might have gone better if you stated that, because you can't get the vaccine, you believe everyone else who is able to should, so that you also remain protected. That's a very valid argument.
    - Mz 12y ago
      I don't have a position on what other people should or should not being doing in this regard. I have been too busy trying to not die to really be bothered to think too much about such things. And I am not thrilled with being told that this forum, where we are supposedly interested in engaging in serious intellectual discussion, is a place where I had damn well better tow the party line and not differentiate from it in the slightest or suffer the consequences. That is a policy of dictators, not scientists and intellectual elite. I will continue to speak my mind as I see fit and accept the downvotes, if necessary, thank you.
      - Retric 12y ago
        Even on a mild discussion when you suggest sacrificing baby's people are going to react negatively. And yes, herd immunity from the flue vaccine does protect baby's so it really is that simple. PS: At best you can clam ignorance, but you really are suggesting direct harm to other people based on a gut feeling. And that's just not ok by most people.

hga 12y ago

Partly disagree in this case. So few people take the flu vaccine that there's no possibility of establishing general herd immunity, even if the experts guess right every flu season (this year they didn't for the Northern Hemisphere, or at least the US). On the smaller scale it's wise, e.g. now that I'm living with my 81 year old father, partly to help take care of him, that's an additional reason I take the vaccine.

Retric 12y ago
Targeted herd immunity works even at low levels. (Ex: staff at nursing homes.) The benifit it simply exponential (Assuming the vaccine is not 100% effective but transmission chances are low.)