An anti-baker aimed at boycotting the “danger” and “recklessness” of Covid Jab

What’s the difference in 24 hours?In a brilliant surge of joy and relief, moods around the world changed after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that what we wanted and prayed for was a successful vaccine. COVID-19..

Global stock prices are skyrocketing and many of us are bold about next year’s overseas travel and the outlook for ordinary families. Christmas It seems to be within reach.

This pioneering breakthrough represents the first real chance of overcoming the disease, much faster than many have hoped for.

Still, there is one group that is reckless, shameful and irresponsible, doing everything possible to prevent us from returning to normal. Of course, it is a high-pitched anti-vaccination movement, well known as an anti-vaccine.

dogma

They promote pseudoscience, barbaric conspiracy theory, and political publicity, undermining the public health message on vaccination.

They see the very idea of ​​jabs (any jabs, especially those that target the coronavirus) as brutal infringement of liberty or dangerous medical intervention.

Taking advantage of the current situation of political distrust, they have forged dangerous doctrines through social media and rallies. For example, at a powerful event of 2,000 held at Trafalgar Square just a few weeks ago, the crowd said, “No vaccinations needed.” Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall song.

Now, more than ever, it is important that we do not succumb to the gospel of their fears.

For most of us, a breakthrough by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is a win. But for anti-vaxxers, it’s a clue to threaten hysteria and beat the drums.

Sadly, it’s a message that resonates very clearly with a significant portion of the masses. In a recent poll, 36% of British people said they were “uncertain” or “very unlikely” to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus if vaccination became available. ..

For the health of the country, and in fact for the health of the world, their numbers must be reduced, which means challenging the anti-vaxxers lies.

As a GP, a childhood vaccination activist, and the author of many books on vaccines, I fully understand the concerns people may have about safety and side effects.

First, new vaccinations have been developed by pioneering and untested technologies. Traditional vaccines, such as the promising vaccination being developed by the University of Oxford / AstraZeneca team, give patients small amounts of inactive or attenuated viruses (or bacteria) and induce the production of protective antibodies and T cells. Works by

Pfizer’s Jab is a “messenger RNA” vaccine that is modified by the virus by altering its RNA (the viral equivalent of DNA). When injected into the body, it enters cells and tricks them into producing viral proteins detected by the immune system, triggering a defensive immune response.

Second, the vaccine has progressed from the laboratory to humans at record speed.

And we know that the introduction of new vaccines is not always problem-free.

In 1955, more than 40,000 polio occurred in children with vaccine defects in the United States, killing 10 people.

Recently, anti-swine flu vaccination has left a small number of people suffering from sleep disorders narcolepsy.

Yes, we are right to be wary of new vaccines. But keep in mind that modern vaccines are safer than ever. Also, be confident in the fact that Pfizer’s drugs (and about 170 similar projects under development worldwide for coronavirus) are based on more than 20 years of research on coronavirus strains. Causes Sars and Mers.

It’s also true that some study participants have reported moderate side effects, but a 44-year-old in Texas describes it as a “severe hangover.”

Today, tens of thousands of people are receiving jabs, and reports of serious side effects appear to be rare.

I believe that the significant impact that anticovid vaccines can have far outweighs any concerns. They will change the landscape of medicine and society.

With the widespread distribution of vaccines, the Holy Grail of “herd immunity” becomes a reality and life can return to normal again.

Therefore, despite being often asymptomatic, the vaccine should eventually be taken as widely as possible in all parts of the population, including adolescents.

Having a jab isn’t just for personal gain. It is an act of social responsibility. If too many people opt out, the virus will continue to spread, putting millions of vulnerable people at risk.

scandal

But opting out noisily is exactly what anti-bakers do, encouraging others to follow them — and sadly they are too influential.

Former Labor leader Jeremy’s brother, Piers Corbyn, has gained a lot of social media support, as did former nurse Kate Shemirani, whose irresponsible war cry is “pandemic, fraud.”

Anti-rubella has existed in some way since the British doctor Edward Jenner developed the first smallpox vaccine in 1798, but today’s campaign is a mislinked MMR in the 1990s. However, thanks to the scandal surrounding the mumps (rubella) vaccine. For a series of serious illnesses.

The main peddler of anti-MMR nonsense was, of course, Andrew Wakefield, a now shameful former doctor who was obsessed with the idea that MMR jabs cause autism. He embarked on Lancet’s fiery, now unreliable dissertation. In 1998.

As soon as I read his Lancet paper, I found that there was no suitable piece of medical evidence behind it.

Overwhelmed by the General Medical Council, he is losing credibility today. However, he continues to arouse hostility to the vaccine in a funded and gloomy campaign from his new base in the United States, which appeared by videolink in protest at Trafalgar Square.

hijack

Indeed, ignoring the fact that vaccination programs have saved hundreds of millions of lives around the world and avoided misery and suffering, supported by Wakefield and others, anti-vaccines have taken a new level thanks to Covid. You have reached hysteria.

Even more absurdly, anti-boxers want to hijack Covid and billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates wants to use jabs to transplant microchips to people to achieve “mind control.” , Making ridiculous political claims.

This kind of nonsense should not be challenged.

Several prominent groups, such as the Royal Society and the British Academy, are calling for the promulgation of anti-vaxx myths to be a criminal offense this week.

I strongly oppose it, partly because freedom of speech must be maintained in democracy.

But criminalization will also nourish the conspiracy of anti-vaxxers and allow them to portray themselves as martyrs.

Anti-Baxers shouldn’t be allowed to win, as we look so close to defeating Covid. Wakefield was defeated in truth. You have to do the same with this bundle of cranks.

Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick is the author of MMR and Autism: What Parents Should Know.