Between the measles outbreak that began at Disneyland a few weeks ago and it recently being entered into my medical records that I am moderately allergic to the tetanus vaccine (fever, body aches, fatigue and injection site pain far above and beyond a mere sore arm), I was primed to read On Immunity by Eula Biss. I fully believe in the importance of vaccinations and have a hard time understanding the whole anti-vaccination movement. I mean, small pox no longer exists because of vaccination and polio is nonexistent in the United States and very close to being wiped out in the rest of the world. Yes, there is always a small risk — allergy, severe illness, death — but the risk is so small in comparison to the benefit that it seems more than worth it. Yet, so many are eager to believe that the measles vaccine causes autism (it doesn’t), or that the government and/or pharmaceutical companies are purposely poisoning children (they aren’t), or any other number of strange reasons having to do with government control, conspiracies, science experiments and invasion of privacy.
Biss is pro-vaccination. She is well-educated and her father is a doctor. Yet, when she became a mother even she had qualms about vaccinating her son. It is through this lens that she examines the fears and beliefs of those who refuse to have their children vaccinated. Along the way we get a cultural and scientific history of vaccination.
We fear a good many things these days and if you have children, the fear is intensified because it is your job to keep them safe. What do you do when you hear about all the chemicals in food and BPA in plastics? Or toxins in the air and water? It is hard enough to protect a child from the threats you can see, how can you keep them safe from the ones you can’t see, and worse, don’t even know about? We hear that a particular vaccine might have mercury in it used as a preservative. We know mercury is poisonous, therefore the vaccine is poisonous too. We blow the tiny risk factors far out of proportion because here is something we can do to protect our children.
The thing is, the human body is already “contaminated.” We are porous creatures and our defenses from outside organisms were breached long ago. We have pieces of virus DNA in our genes. And here is a fascinating bit of information:
The cells that form the outer layer of the placenta for a human fetus bind to each other using a gene that originated, long ago, from a virus. Though many viruses could not reproduce without us, we ourselves could not reproduce without what we have taken from them.
Some might wonder then what the big deal about not vaccinating is if viruses are so important to our very being. Besides being useful in some circumstances, viruses also kill and disable and it is those viruses we vaccinate against.
Those who do not vaccinate rely on the protection of all the people who do. You can only have children who are not vaccinated against measles never get the disease because the child is surrounded by people who have been vaccinated. Biss points out over and over that we think vaccination is an individual choice that has no effects on anyone else, but we are wrong. Because in order for vaccinations to be most effective, most people in the population need to be vaccinated. Immunity to disease is a communal undertaking.
Here I have to admit that in spite of believing whole-heartedly in vaccines, I have never gotten a flu vaccination. My reasoning has always been that I don’t get the flu. And truly, it has been so long since I have had the flu I can’t remember when it was — fifteen years at least. But Bookman dutifully gets a flu shot every year. He has to because he has multiple sclerosis and therefore his immune system is compromised. Now after reading Biss’s argument about vaccination being a communal thing I realize that perhaps one reason I have not gotten the flu is because nearly everyone I know gets a flu shot. In addition, it is possible for me to get the flu and then give it to someone who, for whatever reason, could not be vaccinated and then they could get really sick or possibly die. Because people do die from the flu. Did I ever get a big dose of guilt realizing that. So now next year when the email goes out at the University where I work that free flu shots are being given, I will go and roll up my sleeve.
It was easy to get me to change my mind about flu vaccination, but what about all those people who refuse more important vaccinations for their children? Studies show that forcing science down the throats of anti-vaxxers does no good whatsoever. Biss is unable to offer any suggestions other than insisting on the communal nature of vaccination. It worked for me but it won’t work for all those parents who still believe vaccines cause autism or that the HPV vaccine will make girls more likely to have sex. Clearly for those parents there are many factors that need to be addressed. It is a complex issue and sadly, government is not very good at solving those sorts of things.
On Immunity is a well-written, non-judgmental look at the issues in the vaccination debates. It could not have been more timely if it tried. If you’d like a little insight into the anti-vaccination movement, then I highly recommend this book.
It was scary when I took my children in for their vaccinations. If I remember correctly it was a series of 3 MMR shots. The fear of not just autism was rampant but a whole host of other things that could go wrong. If I wanted my children to go to school, they had to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Being a parent is scary on many levels. But I am so grateful to scientists who developed ways in which parents can protect their children. Cannot protect them from everything, so I wii take what I can get.
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Grad, yeah, when I was a kid if my parents wanted me to go to school they had to provide prof of vaccination. It seems though things have gotten so lax that parents can opt out of vaccinating their children for any reason and they can still attend school. I can imagine how scary it must be to vaccinate your kids because what if they are the 1% who becomes terribly ill? You know it is not likely but those what ifs are really heavy.
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Irresponsibility and ignorance breeds germs and disease.
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Foghorn, sometimes, but not always. The anti-vaxxer mothers Biss talks to are highly educated on vaccinations and what has gone into making them; they fully understand the medical terminology and the literature. But they choose to not vaccinate for other reasons that have a great deal to do with a lack of trust in government and pharmaceutical companies. It is a fascinating dynamic that has developed.
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I admit that after each of my son’s vaccinations (so far – he’s 3) I watched him like a hawk for a day or two, to see if he reacted or behaved “differently.” This book sounds so interesting – I agree with Bliss’ assertion that the communal angle is probably the best way to go with the anti-vaxxers. Good to know your thoughts on this book – we almost chose it for our book group. I definitely want to read it.
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Laila, it’s definitely scary. There is always a risk even if it is small. I think the communal angle is a good one too but I am not sure that it is enough. If you get a chance to read the book I hope you like it!
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My son is writing his essay on science communication at the moment and part of it focuses on the controversy over the MMR vaccine – so thank you especially for that hugely useful link! I’ve passed it on to him. My mother never let me have a TB shot after my brother had trouble with his, so I’m expecting to die of it any day.
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litlove, great topic! Science communication is a hot topic right now on many fronts from medicine to climate change. Glad the link will be useful for him. I actually just came across it yesterday so it was timely. TB as in “consumption”? Well, should you get it I hope you are blessed with beautifully glowing literary sort of demise 😉
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Or, Litlove can be one of those beautiful but doomed heroines in an old movie…She coughs and you know what will happen next. (Usually happens when the actress playing the part asks for a raise or top billing.)
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Oh Grad, you’re too funny! 😀
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Why do you never get the flu? Do you have an explanation? Maybe you’ve been lucky? I can assure you getting the flu is nothing to be desired. And it can lead to further complications that are serious. I’m pleased to learn you will get next season’s flu shot. I hope you avoid the flu this year.
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Richard, I have no idea why I never get the flu. Maybe it’s because I was sick a lot as a kid? Maybe it’s because I lead such a healthy vegan lifestyle? I know I definitely don’t want the flu. I may not have had it in a very long time but I have enough memories of it to know it is no fun.
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I was just having a discussion with a high schooler about immunizations, a girl in his class who was arguing with him against them, and how he thinks we’re eventually gonna have to start asking people if they’ve been immunized, which in his opinion “is totally unnecessary and stupid”. This sounds like a great book on the topic.
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Emily, it’s a whole crazy thing and a good many parents, usually high income ones, somehow are under the misconception that their kids can’t get the measles, that it’s a low income kind of disease. Perhaps with this Disneyland outbreak some of them will change their minds!
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It’s not enjoyable taking your children for their vaccinations, just one of the many things that really have to be done. What amazes me is that the people who refuse vaccinations are usually very happy for their babies to sit in disposable nappies full of chemicals – for years! They’d never dream of washing terry toweling nappies to save them from that horror.
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piningforthewest, no I imagine it isn’t pleasant. I just have cats and when they get their shots at the vet they tend to not feel good for a day or so and I get worried about them sleeping in corners and not eating, if I had kids I’d probably be much worse off! And yes, the logic, or lack thereof behind the choices is often rather astonishing.
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Great review! Hot topic. I just had to get the MMR myself in order to finish grad school – they were not going to allow me to receive my certification unless I proved I had it which I couldn’t do (Records from 45 years ago have been lost.)
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Care, thanks! I know how that goes! I had to get the MMR before I went to college (quite some time ago) because no one could find my childhood vaccination records. I’ve heard talk of having adults get booster shots given the current issues. At least you know you will be protected!
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I’m quite surprised to learn that there’s an anti-vaccine movement now, in 21st century N. America. Utterly mind-boggling. Of course, nowadays, people are more ‘enlightened’ such that they can challenge authority and traditionally held viewpoints more readily. But the basic health issue of vaccination of a child from measles? I thought this is a closed case from almost half a century ago? I understand parents have a right not to protect their children (?), but do they have the right to endanger others?
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Arti, I know, it’s crazy, isn’t it? Parents in the US are refusing all kinds of vaccinations for their children including chicken pox. I’ve heard stories about “chicken pox parties” with parents taking their well children to the sick child’s house in order to get them sick. Crazy! I wish there had been a chicken pox vaccine when I was a kid. It would have saved me being sick and miserable for two weeks and now having to worry about getting shingles. There has never been a requirement to vaccinate children in the US, parents have just done it. At least until the last ten years or so.
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Great review and I’m glad there are people like Biss writing about the need for vaccinations. You are probably correct in thinking that it won’t convince the anti-vaxers (if they even pick up the book), but maybe it will convince someone on the fence. I had never gotten a flu shot (though I’ve been the lucky recipient of the flu several times) until my mom was going through chemo. I’ll do it for those warriors every time.
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Joanna, thanks! yes, hopefully it will convince people sitting on the fence. And perhaps those people who will likely know others who are against vaccination might be able to then put a little pressure on to get them to change their minds. The decision for vaccination becomes a lot clearer and easier when you realize you could be putting someone you love in danger. 🙂
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Really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this, Stefanie. I also don’t understand why people would not get their kids vaccinated but then again I’m not a parent and I wonder if I would have reacted differently? Probably not… Anyway, will have to look for this book at my library. Sounds like a great read.
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Iliana, thanks! It is a great read for multiple reasons. Plus it is fairly short 🙂
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We had a win in Australia recently where there was such a furore about an American anti-vaxxer coming out here to do speaking engagments (invited by anti-vaxxers here) that she ended up cancelling. Apparently too many venues decided they didn’t want her speaking at their place. The power of protest won, I suppose, over the power of free speech AND I don’t think I feel very sad about it!
Oh, and I don’t get flu vaccines either. I take your point about the communal side but we are not told here that everyone SHOULD have them – only the old, and the compromised (like Bookman). My husband gets them though, because, like you they were offered free at work and he has continued since her retired. I’d say it’s 4 decades or so since I had the flu, so I don’t feel guilty about not having the vaccines.
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whisperinggums, it is hard to feel sad about the anti-vaxxer events being cancelled. So you have folks there too. It’s almost a relief to know it isn’t just crazy Americans 😉 They tell us here everyone should have flu shots especially the young, old, and immune-compromised. I don;t know how I have managed not so get the flu for so long since I am regularly exposed to it from coworkers, students and the public. I’m not complaining though! I’m aiming for 4 decades and more like you. Go immune system! 🙂
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Oh yes we do … we seem to follow inexorably in your footsteps in a lot of things!!
And yes, I reckon, “go immune system”.
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I’m not sure if I should apologize for that or not 😉
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I won’t answer that in case it spoils a beautiful friendship! 😉
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Ha! You made me laugh out loud 😀
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