BuzzFeed - This Mom (and Congresswoman) Explains Why Vaccinations Are Important
Op-Ed
By Diana DeGette
Let's start with a little bit of history
Smallpox was incredibly dangerous before we had vaccines
In the 1790s, it infected people in all parts of society (including Mozart, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington) and killed around 10% of the population. Fear at the time was the best medicine:
By rubbing a small amount of cowpox into an incision...
Edward Jenner invented the first vaccine to fight smallpox.
Jenner's vaccines from over 200 years ago were incredibly basic.
Our vaccines today are far more complex and far more effective but they are still based on a similar principle to Jenner's.
If we can introduce a weakened version of the disease (pathogen) to a healthy body, then that body's antigens will develop antibodies to fight the disease.
That way, when a vaccinated person comes into contact with the disease, all of their body's antigens know exactly what to do.
So, basically
The cells and the other cells and
No more smallpox/polio/measles/HPV/mumps/rubella/whooping cough.
The result of vaccines and immunology?
#Gamechanger
Slam
Dunk
So, we're done, right? Nothing bad can hurt us?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vaccines are only truly effective when EVERYONE gets vaccinated
Mind blowing, right? But here's the thing: if people don't get vaccinated or don't get their families fully inoculated, then suddenly we find ourselves in a really bad situation.
A situation that I might compare to
Good with mustard, bad for public health.
Unvaccinated people are not only at risk themselves
they can pose a health risk to their communities. 81 percent of the people (mostly children) who contracted measles in the Disneyland outbreak were unvaccinated. The more people who are unvaccinated, the more likely they are to spread measles from highly concentrated areas like Disneyland to the rest of the country.
When it comes to diseases
It's up to us to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy.
It's not too late
If you haven't gotten your vaccinations, talk to your doctor and get them now. If you're a parent, like me, make sure your kids have them. Our community's health is in our hands.
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