I’m worried. I’m worried because I see more and more reports about the fear, distrust and, in fact, open rejection of vaccination as a method for disease control. Much of this stemmed from controversy around the covid vaccines. However, it has spread and routine childhood immunization rates against such things as polio, measles, whooping cough, etc. have declined. I fear that folks who have not dealt directly with these diseases have no appreciation for how dangerous they can be.
Let me tell you a story – a true story. Early in my career one of the major threats we faced was a brain infection known as H. Flu meningitis (H. Flu stands for Haemophilus Influenza - an unfortunate name because H. Flu is a bacterium. It is not related in any way to the influenza virus we know).
H.Flu meningitis was/is a devastating disease. Even with the best treatment a number of kids that get it will die. (We had an infant death here in Wessington Springs) Many that survive have long term behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Every infant and young child who developed a high fever got a spinal tap because there is no other test that can reliably diagnose the disease. Spinal taps are not minor procedures but we did a lot of them because of the devastating consequences of missing the diagnosis.
Now the good news. A few years after I came to Wessington Springs a vaccine for H. Flu became available. As soon as it was in wide use H. Flu meningitis essentially disappeared. I doubt that young physicians today will ever see a case. The elimination of the disease is due entirely to the vaccine. The H. Flu bug is still around. It could come back if we let down our guard. The same is true for other diseases such as polio, measles, whooping cough, etc. So, I worry when I see declines in immunization.
Much of the controversy we see today originated from concerns about the covid vaccines. It is certainly true that these have not had the dramatic effect that the H. Flu vaccine had. Nonetheless, the scientific data is clear. Those who get the vaccine have substantially lower risk of serious disease, hospitalization and death than those who do not.
Much has been made about freedom - the right of individuals to make their own medical decisions. This is an important issue. The concerns must be taken seriously. In dealing with contagious diseases, however, the problem becomes complicated. The covid vaccines not only reduce the risk to the individual but also reduce the risk of spread of the virus. This is especially relevant with a disease like covid where infected individuals may spread the disease even if they have no symptoms themselves.
The argument here is very similar to the justification for speed limits on the highway. An individual may well be willing to accept the risk to themselves of driving 100 MPH but our society has decided that the risk to others on the highway overrules the freedom of the driver.
Unfortunately all this has become political. When politics direct public health policy we almost always end up with unwanted outcomes. Personally, I think we need to work hard to see that everyone has reliable information which will in turn lead to the broadest level of protection.