Bio: Vaccination and Public Health
Compulsory Vaccinations?
This is indeed a sensitive topic - it came up recently in my personal life as my dad is immunocompromised and manages a restaurant, I was very afraid that if his employees didn't get vaccinated that he would get sick and end up in the hospital again. I didn't want him to return to work for this reason.
I think it's a real risk for a lot of people, whether they are children with immune system's that are still learning, elderly folks, those with cancer, or TB, HIV/AIDS...
The fact that we've had a recent measles outbreak in California, or that whooping cough is returning is even more worrisome.
It's not that I think we should all get every vaccine that is available, but that we should be aware of our communities and what is going on with "herd immunity" - are we risking ourselves and the community by all choosing not to get certain vaccines?
Another reason why I think about this subject is that one day I will be an acupuncturist and I don't want to catch colds from patients, but what I'm even more concerned about is if I catch a cold which I can brush off, but perhaps an immunocompromised patient can't - and I get them sick. I would feel pretty awful about that.
It's a complicated issue though and I'd like to learn more about the communities who don't want vaccines and why that is. I'm curious to read other classmates' blogs, especially with another point of view.
Why I chose my research topic
I'm doing my research on a perfume component called ambergris which comes from sperm whales. I've been interested in perfumes and smells and memory for a long time, and I had recently read a book about this ingredient and how complex it is. It's interesting how it is made, and since it is banned it is also interesting how it is 'copied' in a lab. I'll try to make the presentation more about biology! and I'll try to bring in some samples :)
This is indeed a sensitive topic - it came up recently in my personal life as my dad is immunocompromised and manages a restaurant, I was very afraid that if his employees didn't get vaccinated that he would get sick and end up in the hospital again. I didn't want him to return to work for this reason.
I think it's a real risk for a lot of people, whether they are children with immune system's that are still learning, elderly folks, those with cancer, or TB, HIV/AIDS...
The fact that we've had a recent measles outbreak in California, or that whooping cough is returning is even more worrisome.
It's not that I think we should all get every vaccine that is available, but that we should be aware of our communities and what is going on with "herd immunity" - are we risking ourselves and the community by all choosing not to get certain vaccines?
Another reason why I think about this subject is that one day I will be an acupuncturist and I don't want to catch colds from patients, but what I'm even more concerned about is if I catch a cold which I can brush off, but perhaps an immunocompromised patient can't - and I get them sick. I would feel pretty awful about that.
It's a complicated issue though and I'd like to learn more about the communities who don't want vaccines and why that is. I'm curious to read other classmates' blogs, especially with another point of view.
Why I chose my research topic
I'm doing my research on a perfume component called ambergris which comes from sperm whales. I've been interested in perfumes and smells and memory for a long time, and I had recently read a book about this ingredient and how complex it is. It's interesting how it is made, and since it is banned it is also interesting how it is 'copied' in a lab. I'll try to make the presentation more about biology! and I'll try to bring in some samples :)
I'm really excited about your research! I look forward to your presentation. And thank you for sharing your experience and concerns for your family around having people get vaccinations- I understand this, and have made peace with my own process of getting vaccinated each year. I am fully vaccinated, and while I don't always feel I need it for myself, I am glad to do it for the health of others- even if it is not a full answer, if it can help in some way, I am committed to supporting all of us to be in our best health.
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