Vaccines: Overwhelming Benefits, Few Risks

  • Thread starter Thread starter BillTre
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the benefits and risks associated with vaccines, particularly in the context of the anti-vaccine movement. Participants share data, personal experiences, and opinions regarding vaccination, its historical impact, and the arguments presented by anti-vaccine advocates.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight data indicating that vaccines save more lives than they harm, referencing a US compensation program for vaccine-related injuries.
  • Others express frustration with anti-vaccine advocates, suggesting they are resistant to logical arguments and often rely on flawed reasoning.
  • A participant shares a personal perspective on the stigma surrounding autism and the harmful narratives perpetuated by the anti-vaccine movement.
  • Concerns are raised about the ethical implications of vaccination, with some arguing that individual rights and the risk/reward balance of vaccines today differ from when they were first introduced.
  • Several participants mention the historical success of vaccination programs in eradicating diseases, contrasting this with the current anti-vaccine sentiment.
  • Links to interactive maps and articles are shared, illustrating the outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the impact of anti-vaccine beliefs globally.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing on the benefits of vaccines while others emphasize the ethical concerns and individual rights arguments presented by anti-vaccine advocates. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments rely on statistical interpretations that may not account for changes over time, and there are references to personal anecdotes that highlight the emotional aspects of the debate. The discussion also touches on the complexities of public health messaging and individual autonomy.

  • #181
WWGD said:
When will that happen with the Corona virus?
To act responsibly? Or when will this get "personal"?
I don't know that there's anything people can do about it, as there's no vaccine.

According to the charts @ wiki, and my always suspicious maths, the entire world will be infected in approximately 35 days: March 2nd, 2020.
At which point we will each have 1 chance in 35 of dying.

Though, I suspect it won't be quite this grim.
It will be interesting though.
I just spent about an hour skimming through the Washington Post's "coronavirus-china-latest-updates" article.
Wow!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #182
OmCheeto said:
...At which point we will each have 1 chance in 35 of dying.

Though, I suspect it won't be quite this grim.
Erm. That time with the H1N1 it was 'interesting' to see the difference between countries. Ukraine got it worst as I recall: once the hospitals got overrun with patients the mortality peaked several times over the 'normal' value.
 
Last edited:
  • #183
Rive said:
Erm. That time with the H1N1 it was 'interesting' to see the difference between countries. Ukraine got it worst as I recall: once the hospitals got overrun with patients the mortality peaked several times over the 'normal' value.
From the graph, it is my guess that some countries didn't bother going to much trouble diagnosing who had it.
While other countries, Italy and France in particular, seemed to be giving out candy for each confirmed case.

2009.H1N1.mortality.rates.by.country.png

data source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic_by_country

ps. It's odd, but I have no recollection of the 2009 pandemic.
 
  • #184
OmCheeto said:
From the graph, it is my guess that some countries didn't bother going to much trouble diagnosing who had it.
No mention there about the amount of actual tests performed and the population per countries: without that it's difficult to take that 'statistics' seriously...

Belarus: 86% dead among the confirmed cases o_O
Guess they made the test only on patients already on intensive care with pneumonia.

OmCheeto said:
ps. It's odd, but I have no recollection of the 2009 pandemic.
It was quite an odd pandemic, actually. I think we got off easy that time.
I had some bouts 'at home' against some anti-vaxers, that's why I have more memories.
 
Last edited:
  • #185
Rive said:
No mention there about the amount of actual tests performed and the population per countries: without that it's difficult to take that 'statistics' seriously...

Belarus: 86% dead among the confirmed cases o_O
Guess they made the test only on patients already on intensive care with pneumonia.It was quite an odd pandemic, actually. I think we got off easy that time.
I had some bouts 'at home' against some anti-vaxers, that's why I have more memories.
If one counts the number of deaths compared to the entire population, the oddballs get lost in the data.

2009.H1N1.rate.for.population.png


It looks like Columbia was in the middle with 5.3 deaths per million population. That's about 1 in 200,000. That seems like a very low rate to me. It's no wonder I don't remember it.
 
  • #186
With Venezuela in the condition its in now, seems a plague would have free rein there, with people weakened by hunger and the extreme shortage of most basic medicines. Maybe similar for others like NK.
 
  • #188
Regardless of who gets infected the odds of dying remain constant at 100%
 
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: BillTre
  • #189
BWV said:
Regardless of who gets infected the odds of dying remain constant at 100%
You mean for the Corona virus? And for now?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BillTre
  • #190
WWGD said:
You mean for the Corona virus? And for now?
Birth is a 100% fatal condition.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BillTre and Dr Transport
  • #191
Life is a terminal disease.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Dr Transport
  • #192
BillTre said:
Life is a terminal disease.
##a.a.##
 
  • #193
fresh_42 said:
##a.a.##
Almost Always?
 
  • #194
WWGD said:
Almost Always?
Well, there are rumors ...
 
  • #195
Bah, I keep falling for the same.
 
  • #196
IIRC, SARS' lethal cytokine storm was thwarted by canny Canadian medics who treated it with steroids per 'normal' pneumonia. (*)

But, making a zillion doses ASAP then delivering them to affected areas is non-trivial...

*) Speaking of 'normal' threats, you have had your 'seasonal' 'flu vaccination and your 'decadal' pneumonia equivalent ? Be real-silly to dodge the nasty nCV, but succumb to something so easily prevented or mitigated.

Worst case, if your hospital goes 'Code Black', those vaccinations may earn you potentially life-saving triage points, unto 'Is Worth Treating'...
 
  • #197
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BillTre
  • #198
Bandersnatch said:
Luckily, its basic reproduction number has been declining worldwide.
Unfortunately, the decrease is not equally weighted between the developed and non-developed countries. Ethiopia and Nigeria alone will be adding a total of some 340 million people by 2050 ; 120 and 220 million respective ly, per CIA's world factbook.
 
  • #199
@WWGD that's total change in population (in this analogy ~total number of infected individuals). Their fertility rate drop is among the sharpest.
 
  • #200
Bandersnatch said:
@WWGD that's total change in population (in this analogy ~total number of infected individuals). Their fertility rate drop is among the sharpest.
By fertility rate you mean the average number of children?
 
  • #201
Yes. Per a woman's lifetime, to be precise.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
  • #202
Bandersnatch said:
Yes. Per a woman's lifetime, to be precise.
Ok. I remember at some point Kenya had a growth rate of around 4.3% growth rate, doubling in less than 17 yrs. Crazy. I think Uganda's is similarly high even now.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 100 ·
4
Replies
100
Views
10K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
7K
Replies
10
Views
5K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
7K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
7K