The other day, J. was discussing the recent flu vaccine with his cousin who said that “vaccines are not really necessary now, right? there’s not a lot of these diseases around anyway”.
Sarcastic analogy time!
You know, J. believes that proper sewerage systems are overrated and a waste of money. Look around you now. What is the incidence rate of cholera in Singapore? All these sewer systems can break down, burst open the road and cause road disruptions. They are a waste of taxpayers money. Sewerage systems bad.
End of analogy!
There’s this lack of realisation that the reason we enjoy this relatively pertussis, measles, polio and mumps free environment is a good public health system aided by the compulsory administration of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio and DPT (diphteria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccines. That vaccines were the reason for the eradication of smallpox. And that in areas in the world where vaccination rates have dropped below herd immunity levels, these diseases (except possibly smallpox) can make a comeback.
Next, there’s this lack of realisation that these diseases can cause serious health problems that outweigh the risks of vaccine reactions. This is thinking that needs to be adjusted.
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