This just in: diseases are self-limiting

[justalurkr]

According to an individual on FaceBook who was responding to my "yay vaccines!" post, anyway. Apparently good nutrition, hygeine and less crowded living conditions were taking care of infectious diseases all on their own. I didn't read far enough into the article to get to the actual "self" portion of self-limiting because my tolerance for casual disdain for lives saved by vaccines is absolutely limited, but here's the link:

https://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/graphs/

Edited to add:
Evil part of my brain: (endless giggling)
Me: I'm afraid to ask...
Evil part of my brain: The number of antivaxers old enough to be rolling the dice on shingles! (giggling resumes)

Comments

[amycooper.livejournal.com]

In all fairness, those things do help limit the transmission and severity of illness, however they do not stamp out entire specific illnesses as vaccines do.  Smallpox would still exist and still stricken thousands a year without vaccines.

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

Very true! And I don't mean to scoff at improved standards of living! I was busy being angry at the number of people anti-vaxers seem to be okay with dying while this illusive self-limit sets in and lost a little perspective.

[amycooper.livejournal.com]

Yeah. :/

It's like saying well, now that we have windows to keep the cold abd rain out, we really don't need a roof.