We’ve never really considered Tumblr to be a beacon of intelligent discussion and debate. To be honest, 99% of Tumblr posts have a hashtag that can somehow be traced back to One Direction, and an even higher percentage of posts are GIFs, most serving as illustrations for some sort of fan fiction.
But, this amazing Tumblr conversation that is doing the rounds on the Internet today may have just changed our minds.
It started with this ill-informed analogy, posted by an anti-vaxxer:
But then the post was seen by an immunologist. And that’s when things started to get interesting:
And more interesting:
And even MORE interesting:
Until the debate was shut down. And rationality had won.
At which point Tumblr celebrated in the only way that Tumblr knows how:
While stories like these might seen funny, they really aren’t. The rise of vaccine objectors is something that is already starting to affect the health of our communities most vulnerable members.
This story serves as a reminder of the power of knowledge in the face of ignorance, and the power of any one person to speak up and stop myths from being perpetuated.
Here at Mamamia, we’re proud to stand in support of vaccination. Share if you are too.
Top Comments
get roasted
Yes, the benefits outweigh the risks by miles, unless it's your child that gets sick or become autistic, paralyzed, or develops any of the other problems associated with vaccines. Here's a question: if you don't trust that the vaccines will work to protect your child from these diseases, then why get the vaccine? Furthermore, don't act like an unvaccinated child is going to contaminate all the other kids. Most day care centers don't take unvaccinated children, and schools are pretty much the same. Are you worried that your infant (who is too young to get vaccinated) is going to catch something at a playground? Why the heck is a child, who can't even walk yet, at a playground?? Oh, you're worried about the immuno-suppressed children? Why are they even out in the general public, where they can catch everything, including the common cold, and die from it? FYI, most of the diseases that you get vaccinated against have the same death rate as the disease you are getting vaccinated against. And pretty much all the other same symptoms, for which the doctors tell you will pass. Really??
I was vaccinated as a child. And later on found out I have an autism spectrum disorder. You know how people wiht autism disorders tend to have some small subject they're extremely interested in, and know a lot about?
For me, that's microbiology. Its my favorite thing in the world. Now surely you are aware, of just how intensely interested in this subject I am, and how much I'd know about it. Which is why I can say with absolute certainty that nothing in the vaccines i was given could've caused this.
You ever hear of polio? If you kid caught it, there was instantly a 1/200 chance that they would be incurably paralyzed for life.
What's more, there was an additional 10 percent chance that they would die when their lungs came under attack from the disease. Look up "Iron Lung" to see what kids had to go through for weeks or months just to survive.
Or how about measles?
in 1916, measles killed 12,000 people, 75% of whom were under five. If you encounter someone with measles, there is a 90% chance you will catch the disease unless you are vaccinated. What's more, even if your child does survive, there is a chance that they will have suffered major brain damage while fighting the disease.
So, now that we've established how deadly just two of the many diseases that we beat with vaccines were, let's ignore dozens of scientific studies that have been done to disprove one, biased study, and pretend that vaccines can cause autism.
How many deaths has this horrible condition caused in the last year, that it is better to risk measles or polio to prevent your kid from getting it?
0.
not a single kid was directly killed by autism. No kid will ever be directly killed by autism. I agree that it isn't easy to get along in society if you're autistic, but you aren't having it any better if you're paralyzed by polio or have brain damage from measles. Heck, if you're so afraid of autism, I bet you never let your kids go anywhere near a (gasp) road! (after all, 872 kids in a million die each year from car crashes).