Winter fills me with apprehension, as I wait for illnesses and injuries. The season brings misery. Influenza is a serious, dangerous infection. Despite the challenges of this flu season resulting from unexpected strains and their fast mutation rates, immunizations remain important. Even with our medical advancements, it is possible for…
Tag: vaccines
Flu season hit our house hard, with two sick little girls quickly joined by two sick adults. The girls were vaccinated, but the vaccine hasn’t been effective this season as many news stories report. From ten to 30 percent effective wasn’t great enough for our household. My wife and I…
[2026 Note: I was proved wrong when the supporters of Donald Trump embraced anti-vax nonsense.] The following mixes and matches several quite different groups, confounding people that represent various political views — not a monolithic anti-government movement, but general skepticism: The Very Angry Tea Party By J.M. BERNSTEIN http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/the-very-angry-tea-party/ …
The great portal/blog Left Brain / Right Brain has a lengthy post on current research dealing with potential causes of autism. The post offers links to multiple peer-reviewed studies underway on the familiar suspects, ranging from mercury to the age of parents. Of course, no amount of research will influence…
This is not my usual post — but I received my Univ. of Minnesota Alumni Magazine today and am annoyed. My Ph.D. is from Minnesota, and it is no secret I do not like the institution. My bias definitely affects my general attitude when reading anything linked to UMN. That…
Let the record show that on February 12, 2009, the “vaccine court” created to tackle an issue that scares congressional leaders, issued a finding that gives politicians some cover. Sure, there will be some anti-vaccine politicians who use this to play to particular audiences, but others can say the scientific…
There are risks to not vaccinating a child. Too bad many people don’t understand the risks these outbreaks pose, even to vaccinated children. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/23/hib.vaccine.cdc/?iref=mpstoryview (CNN) — A childhood illness that has mostly been curbed through vaccinations has killed one child and sickened four others in Minnesota, health officials said Friday.…
Why in the world CNN and many other media outlets decided to give “equal time” to various autism experts like Jenny McCarthy is beyond me. This is like giving equal time to the Flat Earth Society when discussing El Niño and ocean currents. McCarthy, Kirby, and others are using Autism…
Apparently, contrary to urban legends, the unvaccinated Amish do get seizure disorders and autism: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/tb/2954 Of course, why trust the New England Journal of Medicine when there are so many “experts” pushing their theories on the Web? I am now accustomed to the anti-vaccination crowd claiming that any research that…
Today the media are reporting an analysis of autism rates in California since the removal of thimerosal from most vaccines. The autism rate, or more accurately the rate of diagnoses, is still climbing in the state. Study challenges drug’s role in autism By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer…