The vaccine debate — Could compassion and nuance be an antidote?

I’ve been thinking a lot about vaccines. As a learner, an observer of humans and our nature, a worshiper of the scientific method, a doctor, a new grandfather, and a member of society, few debates could be more compelling. The kerfuffle over vaccines has it all. It’s the Lance Armstrong story on steroids. (Grin.) The spark for writing on this matter came from reading a mother’s impassioned call for reason. (Link at the end.) The author is a young lawyer who writes (skillfully) about being married to a young doctor. Her vaccine post went viral, garnering 483 comments—which, for a blogger, is akin to nirvana. In what follows, I promise two things: brevity and candor. I’m just a cardiologist, so I claim no special knowledge on the biochemistry and immunology aspects of vaccines. I am, however, more than just an observer. I work in a healthcare setting, taking care of the vulnerable elderly. Other relevant facts: it’s flu season; I don’t like shots; I like the post-vaccine immune reaction even less; and, as an American, I hate being forced to do something. The latter fact should not be taken lightly when considering this debate. Chapter one of the vaccine saga must start with efficacy. Here, let’s consider the childhood vaccines. It’s simply not credible to look at the resurgence of infectious diseases like whooping-cough and measles and then say vaccines do not provide protection. Smallpox was eliminated with vaccines, and in western countries, so was polio...
Source: Dr John M - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: blogs