AIBU to worry about our increasing reliance on vaccines?

[Jolonglegs]

The number of viruses seem to be increasing - ebola, zika, covid-19 etc - and I'm becoming increasingly concerned that we 're becoming ever more reliant on vaccines's. I'm not a scientist, so not really sure what a vaccine is or what it is made of, but I like to keep my body is as natural a state as possible, so don't like putting ever more stuff into it.

I think we need to be reflecting on human behaviour that encroaches more and more on the animal environment, and what we can do to reduce it. Population growth, Insecticides, deforestation, meat eating should all be reduced.

As much as I dont think vaccines are these totally harmless elixirs of life tha some people do. You're being thick.
Vaccines dont reduce our natural immunity, it works with it, so if we took vaccines away we wouldn't become less able to fight of the same things than before we had vaccines. Our increased cleaning is damaging our immune system though and increasing allergies.

There have always been pandemics, we're more aware of them because of the news. But we also live very cramped with humans and animals so viruses are given more opportunities to mutate and jump between species.

We're becoming more reliant in many things. Should we it wash once a week? Should we say no to medicine that takes away pain or might save your life.

The issue I have with your post is that most peoplewho take that view tend to pick and choose.

'I'm not a scientist...'

Thank fuck for that OP!

You’re brave OP lol.

I’m not ‘anti-vaxx’ but can see the point you make about environmental issues.
This is really a separate issue to vaccines, even though it has an overlap.

We should be more concerned about our relationship with the natural world. The way we farm, eat, live, organise our societies in general does cause more issues with diseases than we admit.

We cut down far too many natural spaces, concrete over them, live too close to animals, over farm everything (meat and vegetables etc), and are overpopulated.
It cannot be blamed solely on meat eating because deforestation is done in order to plant crops in high demand like soy.

Add in climate change and you can see why scientists say pandemics are going to be the new normal.

You have a right to voice your concern over the myriad of vaccinations we all have to use these days but sadly they are necessary.

We rely on vaccines because they are literally life savers. Viruses aren’t going away and they are important in nature, that doesn’t mean we should take our chances and hope for the best.

I really can’t see any merit in your position OP.

Don't know why you are getting such hostility. You are saying the exact same thing as David Attenborough and many Infectious disease specialists. We are over populated, over consuming and that includes meat.

@VettiyaIruken
"I wasn't aware we had to choose between vaccines and the environment. How odd."

Then educate yourself on zoonotic diseases and how they could have been prevented. Then how farming practices and what we eat impacts on the planet so more diseases are becoming dangerous and floating about.

We are already planning for our next pandemic, it will hit when everyone of us is moving into the vulnerable groups. We could prevent this, if we took on board the damage our lifestyles are doing. That includes the likes of China, the US and Africa though, so change won't happen.

Eventually science won't be able to cure our problems.

Well said @Ponoka7

MN is so hostile at times. Mention a concern about vaccines and you’re jumped on.

Your point about vaccines is a bit daft but your point about the environment is spot on. Scientists have been warning for years about human interactions with wild and farmed animals leading to pandemics and this won’t be the last pandemic if behaviours don’t change. Airily thinking a vaccine will sort it is naive. This pandemic has been mild, the next one may be far worse.

Do a bit of reading pet, find out what a vaccine actually is and how they work.

Or you know, we could just revert to pre history with sod all medical care, loads of babies will be dead before they turn two, and we'll have a life expectancy of about 38. Sound good?

A lot of self professed experts on these threads. The human race is doing quite well. If you think there are changes to be made, start by becoming a scientist and working on agriculture, or climate etc. The changes the human race needs won't be made by protestors shouting or posting vitriol online. They won't be made by Greta thunberg either. They will be made in a lab or research facility by an unsung hero.

If you turned the news off, I think you'd find that we suddenly had no viruses at all.

Are you against all medicine or just vaccine?

I guess without vaccines there would be far far far fewer of us on the planet which would certainly be good for the world! Stop medications completely and you could wipe us all out before long!

Linda Ellen

Most new viruses jump to humans from animals because of really horrible farming practices or similar behaviour (interestingly archaeologists think humans had fewer diseases before we became farmers). If ethical farming became more of a norm the human race would be much healthier

One of the most common ways to get cross-species infections is to live with your animals. So, small farmers, in third world countries, living with their animals in the same building. All very small scale and ethical, but not good for health.

If you don't know what vaccines are and how they work, maybe find out about it...