We can thank vaccines for protecting us from some truly nasty diseases. But, somehow, the idea of getting vaccinated has become controversial in recent years. The most recent flareup in the ongoing debate centers around a well-known author.
Jamie McGuire’s a successful author.
Known for her work in the New Adult genre, for ages 18-30, McGuire has written a number of popular books, notably Walking Disaster , which appeared on the bestseller lists of multiple publications.
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McGuire has an active social media presence.
With nearly 30,000 followers on Facebook and over 90,000 on Instagram, McGuire is known for sharing her thoughts and engaging with her fans. A recent post of hers has blown up like nothing else.
She featured the hashtag #idonotconsent
You can read the post above, or check it out on Facebook . McGuire, skeptical of vaccines in general, is adamant that she isn’t going to go along with getting vaccinated.
No one’s forcing her or her kids to get vaccinated.
It’s worth noting that in her native Oklahoma, parents are free to decline vaccinations for their kids, assuming they fall under three categories: medical, religious, or personal. These categories can cover just about any possible reason.
The reactions weren’t surprising.
Since the anti-vaccination movement has gained momentum in recent years, it’s been a neverending battle between people who believe that vaccines cause autism, and those who actually know better.
Vaccines don’t cause autism.
The anti-vaxxer movement gained momentum after a British doctor, Andrew Wakefield , said there was a connection. Wakefield’s conclusions were so flawed that he was stripped of his medical license, and his claims have been discredited .
Reactions were mixed.
Plenty of memes were shared on both sides of the debate. Some, like the poster here, pointed out that even if something isn’t 100 % foolproof, 99.9-whatever % is still pretty good.
But Jamie had people in her corner, too.
Others, no doubt fans of McGuire’s work, supported her statement. It is entirely within her rights not to get her kids vaccinated, of course — but using her platform to make a statement does open her up for criticism.
Let’s examine some of the facts.
Vaccines save lives. In 2016, the World Health Organization said that 1.5 million kids die every year from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. Despite this, vaccination rates are trending down.
They’re effective.
They’re effective at preventing disease in about 90 to 99 percent of cases. This number obviously doesn’t cover everyone. But even when a vaccinated person does get a disease, it’s almost always less severe than it would have been had they not been vaccinated.
They’ve virtually wiped out some of history’s nastiest diseases.
From diptheria to mumps to whooping cough, many of the common diseases of yesteryear are no longer a significant threat. This is because of vaccines. Of course, if fewer people get vaccinated, they could all come back.
The information is out there.
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) exists to give doctors a place where they must submit all adverse side effects. This system helps monitor the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
Herd immunity matters.
Herd immunity is the idea that if most of the people in a given population have been vaccinated, it means there are fewer opportunities for an unvaccinated person to get a disease. In short, when more people are vaccinated, everybody benefits.
What do you think?
McGuire shared her reasons for doing something she doesn’t believe in. Some support her, others say she’s ignoring science. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
