"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Friedrick Nietzsche
Atheist, scientist, secular Buddhist, rat lover, etc.
Originally from Iowa,I am a biology graduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
All of the anti-vaxer moronory can just disappear off of my dashboard now.
Nothing annoys me more than when people who don’t understand the first thing about a) how the human body works b) how viruses/bacteria work c) basic, basic immunology d) chemistry/biochemistry, try to argue about something that is related to any of the aforementioned items. Knowing this shit is what pays my bills and keeps me fed, do not try to argue your pseudo-science garbage in my presence.
Annoyed microbiologist out.
PS. You do realized that everything is composed of chemicals, right? The food we eat, the fucking air we breath? Yeah.
PPS Nothing against christiantheatheist, everything against his idiot greyfaces.
Sit back with a fat Buddha sack: OMG. People reblogging the post about PEP - it is NOT like the morning after pill for HIV
If you have no knowledge whatsoever of something, don’t extol its virtues on a thread. It’s not the same as EC or even similar to EC.
1. PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is primarily for healthcare workers who may have been exposed to HIV through the bodily fluids of…
A big problem with people not following through with treatment is that if they are infected, and fail to complete treatment, it is possible that they will end up selecting for more drug resistant strains. Exactly what is happening with TB.
Writing in the Lab: Why is your immune system sort of like Mad-Eye Moody?
Allergies are a form of hypersensitivity that occurs when the immune system reacts to a harmless substance. Basically, your immune system finds this things and thinks it wants to kill you.
Allergies are like the Mad-Eye Moody of the body. They run around screaming, “CONSTANT VIGILANCE” and…
This is just perfect.
Something I just heard on Cognitive Dissonance
In Australia, you lose your tax benefits if you don’t vaccinate your children. Why is this not everywhere!?
Good. I bet Australia has a much lower incidence of Pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps, and a whole host of other vaccination-preventable illnesses. People who “disagree” with vaccinations generally have absolutely no knowledge about how the human immune system works. Jenny McCartney said “blah, blah, blah” doesn’t count.
Education and Vaccine Uptake
A new study, not published but to be presented at a meeting, purports to show that after the infamous Andrew Wakefield 1998 Lancet article alleging a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, vaccination rates in the US declined by about two percent. This may seem like a small amount but has an effect on public health, and vaccine refusal typically occurs in pockets that bring vaccination rates below the level needed for “herd” immunity, allowing for outbreaks.
This, however, is all old news. There are two other pieces of information in the study that are interesting. The first is that the decrease in vaccination rates did not rebound after Wakefield and his Lancet study were thoroughly refuted. That genie was out of the bottle, and correcting the misinformation did not have the desired effect of putting it back in. This too is in line with other research and experience. It is easier to spread fear than reassurance. Once rumors are spread the damage cannot be undone.
Anti-vaxers have infected Canada
This was the second hit when I googled “vaccinations Canada”. http://vran.org/ It is the same made-up garbage that US-based anti-vaxers like Jenny McCarney’s Autism One spew. The whole “omgeeee vaccines cause autism because that one fabricated study by that now-disbarred doctor said so” routine. Lolz this one actually claims that vaccines cause juvenile diabetes and peanut allergies. You know, because its totally not genetically based or anything. Gag.
Vaccines have been a topic of debate for quite some time. Many parents opt out of vaccinating their children because of scientific rumors, some feel that ancient diseases no longer need vaccinations because of their rarity. Other parents vaccinate their children willingly and unvaccinated playmates cause parents to fear for their child’s health. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine has sparked controversy after a physician published a paper linking it to autism. This has been widely discredited both by government researchers and private researchers, but the publicity and effect carries on.
As seen in the infographic, some parents are not following CDC suggested vaccine schedules. Parents are skipping doses, delaying vaccines, waiting between consecutive vaccinations and refusing the vaccinations all together. This has an effect on the unvaccinated children as well as their vaccinated playmates. 68% of those diagnosed with measles from 2004-2008 refused vaccinations.
Parental reasons for straying from CDC recommended vaccinations vary, including more control over their child’s health, avoiding unnecessary vaccines, safety and side effects. While parents do have ultimate control over their child’s health, everyone should make educated decisions about health and wellness. While following a recommended schedule blindly may not be the best route, doing research and having a plan are important to consider when the consequences can affect both your child health and the health of others. For all of you parents, do you vaccinate? Why or why not?
Dear mom, thanks for getting me my recommended vaccinations on time. Thanks to you (and the medical professional who administered the vaccines), I haven’t been infected with the measles, rubella, or HPV. Not being sick or potentially dying from a preventable illness has worked out quite well for me.
