exactly!! the defiant ignorance of anti-vaxxers, especially the nominee to head health and human services, is going to cost countless livess. such a waste. thank you for trying to help.
This, in my humble opinion, is a required read. I had chicken pox as a kid, mumps made the rounds of my siblings but I escaped. I remember taking my now 51 year old daughter to be vaccinated and appeared upset with her crying. The village doctor, not to mince words, said, "Would you rather she die from one of these diseases?" Truer words were never spoken. I have a nephew who is an anti vaxxer, appalling. Thank you Dr. Braico.
Thank you Dr Braico and Ken Tingley for writing and for publishing this clearly stated article. I will share it now, hoping that it reaches someone who needs to read it.
Thank you. Dr. Braico, for your commentary on the tremendous contribution medicine has made to our public health with vaccines.
With the increase in anti-vaccination propaganda in recent years and the advent of a backwards presidential administration, I fear our country has entered, in part, a Dark Age. It’s an age where superstition, ignorance, and incompetence threatens to eclipse the advances made by medicine and scientific methodology. While the advances in public health are real, they are fragile and can be easily undone.
It’s more important than ever to reinforce the proven value of vaccines in reducing and eradicating childhood diseases, and to counter anti-vaccination propaganda with the facts.
Anyone who denies that vaccines save lives should take a walk through any of the old cemeteries in this region and read the tombstones of countless babies and children. Some families lost multiple babies, one after another. Back then it was a heartbreaking but common occurrence. Is that what they want to return to?
As a retired doctor myself I am flabbergasted by anyone’s rejection of vaccination. I remember seeing a lineup of no longer used but still present “iron lungs” in a hallway at Bellevue Hospital when I was a medical student in the 1960’s. The polio vaccine took fear out of summer. I also remember the grateful relief I felt the day I was eligible for the new Covid vaccine. We over-65’s were jubilant in line at the Columbia University field house where the young med student volunteers were administering it.
I am terrified by RFK Jr.’s nomination to head HHS; and by Trump’s threats to the CDC and NIH. What planet have we landed on ? We are in for very disturbing times.
Thank you Kathy for helping us realize how important vaccines are, and for all your good works.
Diane
exactly!! the defiant ignorance of anti-vaxxers, especially the nominee to head health and human services, is going to cost countless livess. such a waste. thank you for trying to help.
I agree!
This, in my humble opinion, is a required read. I had chicken pox as a kid, mumps made the rounds of my siblings but I escaped. I remember taking my now 51 year old daughter to be vaccinated and appeared upset with her crying. The village doctor, not to mince words, said, "Would you rather she die from one of these diseases?" Truer words were never spoken. I have a nephew who is an anti vaxxer, appalling. Thank you Dr. Braico.
Such an important piece. Thank you.
Thank you.
You barely see trach scars anymore.
I had 3 friends that had them.
Measles are dangerous.
Nor do I see people in wheelchairs or people using crutches from polio.
Thank you Dr Braico and Ken Tingley for writing and for publishing this clearly stated article. I will share it now, hoping that it reaches someone who needs to read it.
Thank you Dr. for all you do.
Thank you Dr. Braico for the clear and heartfelt words. The value of childhood vaccinations should not be ignored.
"We so rarely see those diseases now, thanks to these vaccines, that people think that they have somehow just disappeared."
The crux. When the hard work of civilization is minimized, ignored and dismissed. Thank you for the guest essay, a life well-lived.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you. Dr. Braico, for your commentary on the tremendous contribution medicine has made to our public health with vaccines.
With the increase in anti-vaccination propaganda in recent years and the advent of a backwards presidential administration, I fear our country has entered, in part, a Dark Age. It’s an age where superstition, ignorance, and incompetence threatens to eclipse the advances made by medicine and scientific methodology. While the advances in public health are real, they are fragile and can be easily undone.
It’s more important than ever to reinforce the proven value of vaccines in reducing and eradicating childhood diseases, and to counter anti-vaccination propaganda with the facts.
Anyone who denies that vaccines save lives should take a walk through any of the old cemeteries in this region and read the tombstones of countless babies and children. Some families lost multiple babies, one after another. Back then it was a heartbreaking but common occurrence. Is that what they want to return to?
Thank you Dr. Braico. My child was a patient in your practice. We appreciated your service then and certainly now.
Thank you for a great essay. This should be in The NY Times and Wall Street journal and the Washington Post.
So very informative. And btw you aren’t old.
As a retired doctor myself I am flabbergasted by anyone’s rejection of vaccination. I remember seeing a lineup of no longer used but still present “iron lungs” in a hallway at Bellevue Hospital when I was a medical student in the 1960’s. The polio vaccine took fear out of summer. I also remember the grateful relief I felt the day I was eligible for the new Covid vaccine. We over-65’s were jubilant in line at the Columbia University field house where the young med student volunteers were administering it.
I am terrified by RFK Jr.’s nomination to head HHS; and by Trump’s threats to the CDC and NIH. What planet have we landed on ? We are in for very disturbing times.
I totally agree with you.
Thank you for this essay Dr Kathy. Such important information that unfortunately many will choose to ignore.