Debunking Anti-Vaxxers

Summary

This video script debunks common anti-vaccination arguments, highlighting the safety and necessity of vaccines. It addresses misconceptions about vaccine ingredients, the natural immunity myth, allergy fears, and the severity of preventable diseases. The script also refutes the autism-vaccine link, emphasizes herd immunity, and acknowledges the rigorous testing and monitoring of vaccines. Sponsored by the Gates Foundation, it advocates for vaccination as a life-saving measure and a beacon of modern medical progress.

Takeaways

• 🧪 Vaccines contain trace amounts of chemicals, but these are present in negligible doses compared to daily intake from food and drink.
• 🌱 The idea that vaccines are 'unnatural' is debunked; vaccines help the immune system develop by introducing a weakened form of the germ.
• 🥜 Contrary to some beliefs, vaccines have been shown to have a protective effect against allergies, rather than causing them.
• 🏥 Diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles were devastating before vaccines, causing millions of deaths and disabilities.
• 🔬 The claim that vaccines cause autism has been thoroughly discredited; the original study was fraudulent and has been retracted.
• 🌐 Vaccines are not just about individual health; they contribute to 'herd immunity', protecting those who cannot be vaccinated.
• 💼 While pharmaceutical companies profit from vaccines, the societal benefits in terms of health and cost savings are substantial.
• ⏱️ The process of vaccine approval is rigorous, involving extensive testing and monitoring for safety and efficacy.
• ⚡ The risk of severe reactions to vaccines is extremely low, much lower than many other common risks in daily life.
• 💉 The video concludes with a strong call to action for viewers to get vaccinated and to vaccinate their children.

Q & A

What are some of the chemicals found in vaccines that are claimed to be harmful by anti-vaxxers?

Anti-vaxxers claim that vaccines contain harmful chemicals such as MSG, antifreeze, phenol, formaldehyde, aluminum, lead, and mercury.

How do the doses of chemicals in vaccines compare to their daily intake through food and drink?

The doses of chemicals in vaccines are negligible compared to the average daily intake through food and drink, which is significantly higher.

Why was mercury-containing compound thimerosal removed from most childhood vaccines?

Thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines since 2001 to ease public concern, even though no literature suggests it's harmful at doses present in vaccines.

How do vaccines help in developing the immune system of children?

Vaccines introduce a weakened form of the germ to the body, allowing the immune system to recognize it and build defenses for future encounters with the disease.

Why are vaccines given at a young age, and which diseases do they cover?

Vaccines are given at a young age because that's when children are at the highest risk of getting sick or dying. They cover diseases for which people do not have natural immunity and are most dangerous.

What was the outcome of the study that investigated the link between vaccines and allergies?

The study found that vaccines have a protective effect against allergies, contrary to the belief that they cause allergies.

How have vaccines impacted the prevalence of diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles?

Vaccines have led to the eradication of smallpox, a significant reduction in polio cases, and prevented millions of measles deaths worldwide.

What was the fraudulent study that claimed a link between vaccines and autism?

The fraudulent study was a paper published in the late 1990s that suggested the MMR vaccine caused malabsorption of nutrients in the gut, leading to increased autism cases, which was later debunked.

Why is it important for parents to vaccinate their children beyond just protecting their own child?

Vaccinating not only protects the individual but also contributes to herd immunity, which is crucial for protecting those with weaker immune systems who cannot be vaccinated.

How are vaccines regulated and tested for safety before being approved for use?

Vaccines are among the most highly regulated substances, going through multiple phases of testing for safety, correct dosage, and efficacy. In Canada and the U.S., this process can take 10 to 25 years before approval.

What is the estimated net savings generated by vaccines in the U.S. between 1994 and 2013?

Vaccines created a net savings of $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in societal costs during the period from 1994 to 2013 in the U.S.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Debunking Anti-Vaccination Arguments

This paragraph addresses common misconceptions about vaccines, emphasizing that while vaccines contain chemicals, they are present in doses that are safe and significantly lower than what we naturally consume. It clarifies that mercury, once a concern, has been removed from most vaccines since 2001 without evidence of harm. The paragraph also counters the idea that vaccines are unnatural by explaining how they mimic a natural immune response and are targeted for diseases without natural immunity. It refutes the link between vaccines and allergies, supported by a study showing vaccines may actually protect against allergies. Lastly, it highlights the historical severity of vaccine-preventable diseases and the significant reduction in disease burden due to vaccines, including the eradication of smallpox and the near-elimination of polio and measles.

05:05

🌐 The Importance of Vaccines for Herd Immunity and Public Health

This paragraph discusses the concept of herd immunity, explaining how widespread vaccination protects vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated, such as those undergoing chemotherapy. It challenges the notion that vaccine decisions are purely personal by illustrating how vaccination benefits public health. The paragraph also addresses concerns about pharmaceutical companies' influence, highlighting the rigorous testing and regulation vaccines undergo. It points out the economic benefits of vaccines, saving billions in healthcare costs and societal expenses. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to get vaccinated, emphasizing the optimism in the future due to advancements in medical technology and the dedication of scientists and individuals working to solve global health issues.

Keywords

💡Vaccines

Vaccines are biological preparations that provide active acquired immunity to a particular disease. They contain weakened forms of the disease-causing microorganisms or their components, which stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight off the actual disease when encountered. In the video, vaccines are defended against misconceptions, highlighting their importance in preventing diseases like measles, polio, and rubella, which have caused significant harm and death before the advent of vaccination.

💡Anti-vaxxer

An anti-vaxxer is an individual who opposes vaccination, often due to concerns about the safety or necessity of vaccines. The term is used in the video to describe people who hold arguments against vaccination, which the video aims to debunk. The video presents common anti-vaccination arguments and provides scientific counterpoints to promote the understanding and acceptance of vaccines.

💡Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that was used in some vaccines to prevent bacterial growth. It has been a point of controversy due to concerns about its safety. The video addresses these concerns by stating that thimerosal has been removed from almost all childhood vaccines since 2001 and that no scientific literature suggests it is harmful at the doses used in vaccines.

💡Herd Immunity

Herd immunity, also known as community immunity, occurs when a large percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, either through vaccination or previous infections, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune. The video explains that when more people are vaccinated, it reduces the spread of disease, protecting those who are vulnerable, such as the very young, elderly, or those with compromised immune systems.

💡Allergies

Allergies are the immune system's abnormal response to a usually harmless substance. In the context of the video, it addresses a common misconception that vaccines can cause allergies. The video clarifies this by citing a study that found vaccines to have a protective effect against allergies, rather than causing them.

💡Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. The video discusses the now-debunked claim that there is a link between vaccines and autism, stemming from a fraudulent study published in the late 1990s. The video emphasizes that this claim has been refuted by extensive research and that vaccines are not associated with an increased risk of autism.

💡Pharma

The term 'pharma' is short for pharmaceutical, referring to the industry that develops, produces, and markets drugs and medicines. In the video, the pharmaceutical industry is mentioned in the context of profiting from vaccine sales, but also in terms of the rigorous testing and regulation that vaccines undergo to ensure their safety and efficacy.

💡Disease Eradication

Disease eradication refers to the global effort to eliminate a disease, as was the case with smallpox. The video uses the example of smallpox to illustrate the success of vaccination campaigns in eradicating deadly diseases, highlighting the power of vaccines in preventing millions of deaths.

💡Polio

Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which can lead to paralysis. The video discusses the impact of polio before the vaccine was available, with thousands of cases reported each year in the United States, leading to long-term disabilities. The introduction of the polio vaccine significantly reduced the incidence of the disease.

💡Rubella

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection that can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy. The video mentions the severe consequences of rubella before the vaccine was available, including neonatal deaths, miscarriages, and congenital disabilities in children born to infected mothers.

💡Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe health complications, especially in young children. The video highlights the global impact of measles and the significant reduction in deaths due to regular vaccination efforts, as estimated by the World Health Organization.

Highlights

Vaccines contain chemicals, but so do many everyday substances, and the doses in vaccines are negligible.

Aluminum in vaccines is present in much lower amounts than daily intake through food and drink.

Mercury-containing compounds like thimerosal have been removed from most childhood vaccines since 2001.

Vaccines introduce a weakened form of the germ to help the immune system recognize and fight off future infections.

Newborns have some immunity from their mother, but vaccines are necessary for diseases they are not naturally immune to.

Vaccines are given at a young age when children are most at risk of severe illness or death from preventable diseases.

Vaccines have a protective effect against allergies, contrary to some beliefs.

Pre-vaccine diseases like smallpox, polio, and rubella caused significant morbidity and mortality.

Vaccination has led to the eradication of smallpox and a drastic reduction in cases of other serious diseases.

The claim that vaccines cause autism has been debunked by extensive research and retracted by the original study's authors.

Vaccines protect not only the individual but also contribute to herd immunity, safeguarding vulnerable populations.

Pharmaceutical companies are highly regulated, and vaccines undergo rigorous testing before approval.

Vaccines have resulted in significant net savings in healthcare costs and societal costs.

The likelihood of a severe reaction to vaccines is extremely low, comparable to the odds of being struck by lightning.

Vaccines are a critical component of modern medicine, contributing to the decrease in child mortality rates.

The video encourages viewers to get their flu shots and emphasizes the importance of vaccinating children.

Transcripts

The number of people that are against vaccinating themselves and their children has surged in recent years,

and it can be frustrating listening to their claims.

So we wanted to debunk and deconstruct the most common arguments one by one

to help you prepare and present the facts in your next encounter with an anti-vaxxer.

Argument 1: "Why I Do Not Vaccinate My Kids"

Blog Entry 189.

Vaccines contain:

MSG, antifreeze, phenol, formaldehyde, aluminum, lead, and mercury.

It's true; vaccines contain chemicals.

Vaccines have contained mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde.

Ingredients that can be toxic; what else can be toxic?

Water (given a large enough dose), and same goes for apples, coffee, or too much of anything to be honest.

The dose makes the poison, and the doses of the chemicals in vaccines are negligible.

For example, vaccines that include aluminum (which is included to make the vaccine more effective),

contain about 0.125 milligrams per dose.

But the average person actually takes in an estimated 30-50 milligrams every day through food and drink.

That's way more than one vaccination on a daily basis.

And while some people warn about the presence of mercury containing compounds like thimerosal

(a vaccine preservative to prevent bacterial growth),

it's actually been removed from almost all childhood vaccines since 2001.

This was done to ease public concern, even though no literature suggests it's harmful at doses present in vaccines.

Argument 2: As a granola parent, my kids get everything natural.

Quinoa crackers over Ritz any day!

Because can't we just all agree that the natural root is better?

So let your child's immune system develop naturally and save them a lifetime of pain.

Vaccines introduce a weakened form of the germ to your body so that the immune system can learn to recognize it.

Your body then build its defenses so it's prepared to fight off a real attack later.

And it's true; naturally newborn babies are immune to several diseases

because of the antibodies they receive from their mother's breast milk and the thousands of germs they're exposed from the moment they're born.

But vaccines cover the diseases you don't have immunity against.

It's why we don't vaccinate for every single disease possible; just those which are most dangerous.

And children are given shots at a young age because this is when they're at the highest risk of getting sick or dying.

Argument 3: But what about allergies?

My second cousin Lisa got her kids vaccinated, and now, they have a peanut allergy.

I don't my baby to get allergies!

In 1997, people began to question whether there was a connect between vaccines and allergies.

And then a study of 2,100 participants ages 5-6 found that vaccines actually have the opposite effect,

and instead have a protective effect against allergies.

Argument 4: I mean, how bad are the diseases that these vaccines are preventing anyways?

My ol' sport here, stuffed like a packed sausage. Got my genes, so he's built to last!

If he got the measles, what's the worst that could happen?

Vaccines have done such a good job preventing so many diseases that many generations have never seen them.

But here's what these diseases looked like without vaccines:

In 1967 smallpox was responsible for millions of deaths. By 1980 it was completely eradicated due to an intensive vaccine campaign.

Before polio vaccine was available, 13,000 to 20,000 cases of paralytic polio were reported each year in the United States.

This meant thousands of children had to use braces, crutches, wheelchairs, and ventilators to breathe.

From 1964-1965, before the rubella vaccine, there were 2,100 neonatal deaths and 11,250 miscarriages.

And of the 20,000 born with rubella, more than half ended up deaf, over 3,000 blind, and 1,800 with mental delays.

As for measles, before immunization was available, nearly everyone in the U.S. got measles because it's extremely contagious.

The World Health Organization estimates that regular vaccination has prevented 20.4 million deaths from measles worldwide from 2010-2016.

Argument 5: Okay, but you still haven't covered--

*quietly* Autism.

Much of the anti-vaccination movement is linked to one paper published in the late 1990s,

which claimed vaccines caused autism.

It suggested a link between the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine causing malabsorption of nutrients in the gut,

thereby leading to increased cases of autism in children.

The study was later proven to be fraudulent and was debunked by 25 international research papers involving large population studies.

Furthermore, 10 of the 13 authors of this original paper have now refuted and retracted their original statements on the suggested link.

And while it's understandable that parents want to protect their kids, the claim is not founded in any evidence.

Argument 6: There needs to be a balance with the government.

Parents should have a measure of choice about whether or not they should vaccinate their kids.

No one knows their kid better than you do. So, vaccinating your kid only affects you and your baby.

This is simply not the case. Vaccines protect you, and perhaps more importantly, it helps other people.

If you're not sick, you can't spread the disease to those with weaker immune systems, particularly the very young or elderly,

and those who have medical conditions in which they can't be vaccinated,

for example, those undergoing chemotherapy.

The more people that are vaccinated, the less available real estate for the germs, meaning its spreading ability is squashed.

This principle is called "herd immunity".

For the vulnerable in our society, herd immunity is their best protection.

Argument 7: The NSA, the CIA, the FBI, big corporations, big pharma,

The amount of drugs they've taken off the market trusting those suits is practically a death sentence.

Pharmaceutical companies do make money from selling vaccines. One recent estimate puts the vaccine market now at $24 Billion, which is huge.

But if you want to talk money, a study found that in the U.S between 1994

and 2013, vaccine created a net savings of two hundred and 95 billion in direct costs and 1.3

8 trillion in societal cost.

It's true, drugs have been pulled from the market after harmful side effects came to light. However, vaccines are among the most highly regulated

substances we can put into our bodies, in part because they're given to help people, usually children as a

preventative measure, rather than a treatment.

They go through

multiple phases of testing

to see if they're safe, to find the correct dose, and to see if protection against the disease actually

works. In Canada and and the U.S, it can take 10 to 25 years of testing before a vaccine is approved.

And once on the market,

there's continuous monitoring of it's effects. The likelihood of a severe reaction to the MNR vaccine is

approximately 1 into 1 million, which is around ten times less likely than being killed by a lighting strike.

Thank you so much to Bill and Melinda Gates

for sponsoring today's episode. This video is meant to highlight the importance of vaccines which save millions of lives every year.

Vaccines are a great example of how modern medicine and technology have decreased disease for a while.

It's part of the reason why the number of children who die every year has been cut by half and continues to go down.

Though sometimes it's hard to feel like it, there are many reasons

why we should be optimistic about our future. This becomes pretty clear when you focus on the brilliant

scientists, dedicated individuals

and new ideas that are solving some of the world's toughest issues.

Head to Gatesletter.com to learn in the annual letter from Bill and Melinda gates

why they're so optimistic about the future.

Thanks for watching, and if you haven't already, go out and get your flu shot, and please, parents please just vaccinate your kids, thanks a lot.

and we will see you next week. Bye.