[BIOLOGY | Week #13] Vaccination + Public Health

-

Public Health Policy + Vaccinations


I think compulsory vaccination is effective, especially if there is a major breakout of a disease that historically has been under control, such as small pox.  I think because I don't have any children there is a bias, disconnect, and misunderstanding I have of parents who are willing to place the children (and the risk of other peoples children) by not vaccinating them.  Throughout history, our society has been able to sustain and survive crazy epidemics.  There was a point in time when vaccines weren't available or accessible in the U.S. There are developing countries today who continue to have little to no access to vaccines that people in this nation are PRIVILEGED to obtain.  Perhaps anti-vaxxers would have a change of heart if they lived in an environment where they see scores of children being decimated from preventable diseases like the measles.  I honestly don't know how to accommodate parental choice if I were drafting the vaccination law...I am in the mindset of protecting the health and livelihood of the community as whole. 
  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

[BIOCHEMISTRY | Week #12] Cell Biology + Radioactivity

-
Image
Cell Biology + Radioactivity I never really understood the extent of my exposure to radiation outside of a microwave oven or my own cell phone.   The biggest surprise was the chart that showed how much radiation we are exposed to when traveling on an airplane. It never crossed my mind how being at higher elevations make you more susceptible to exposure to radiation from the sun. Wild! I was also left with such heavy thoughts about individuals in constant contact with high doses of radiation like those tasked to clean nuclear waste or those who work at power plants.   The story one of our classmates shared about employees dying of cancer at a plant in Wisconsin was just heartbreaking. Is there a conversation happening around ethics and our excessive exposure to radioactive material?   It seems that every scientific discovery and/or creation by humankind is easily bastardized by greed and power.   Things seem to be worsening with the Trump administration’s push ...
Read more

[CHEMISTRY | Week #10] The Chemistry of Household Products + Electronegativity

-
Image
Kitchen Sink Cabinet Findings We have a quite a range of cleaning products and materials underneath our kitchen sink.  The most environmentally friendly product we have is dish soap from Costco named, "Kirkland Signature Environmentally Responsible Ultra Liquid Dish Soap."  Through this blog assignment, I actually questioned what constitutes "Environmentally Responsible" from Costco's perspective. I found a review on a blog called, "Apartment Therapy." Here's what the author wrote: "Costco is forthcoming about what’s  not  it the detergent: phosphates, dyes, optical brighteners, or bleaches. They’re also not tested on animals, and they “feature” biodegradable cleaning agents and plant-based formulas. But are they entirely free of petroleum products? Other than the bottle, which is still (petroleum-based) plastic, it’s hard to say." We try our best to be environmentally conscious with other cleaning products, but still have a long ...
Read more

[PHYSICS | Week #3] Synchronicity

-
Image
Synchronicity & Connectivity "Dr. Carl Jung 's observations were based on the rejection of a coincidental, one-dimensional life, and instead, the recognition that we engage in the world in a very complex way through our psyches, our energies, our emotions, and our actions and experiences." (Kopecky, Gaia Magazine, 2015) I feel there has to be a level of mindfulness/awareness in how one interacts with people, situations, emotions and the world in order to experience what Jung coins as synchronicity.   As I've become intentional about reconnecting to my physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, the more synchronicity has resonance with me. I continue to be less and less surprised when friends I think about suddenly contact me or events I foresee to happen eventually unfold.  What I've been grappling with lately within the concept of synchronicity is how we tap into memories stored in our bodies. For instance, this week I found myself cooking more than...
Read more