When I try and put on my empathy hat, I think it comes down to two things. First, the medical and scientific establishment have definitely made mistakes in the past. Overprescribing opioids in the 2000s caused a lot of deaths and suffering. Some, but not all, of that was due to kickbacks and shady behavior by drug companies like Purdue. During the covid-19 pandemic, intentions were good, but mistakes were also made here, like confusing messaging around whether masks did or didn't work, a 6 foot distance between people that was not based on solid data, and extended school closures. All of these things cost us trust, and it's a death by a thousand cuts. Second, conspiracy theories are often a response to a chaotic world that feels out of control. It is easier to believe vaccines are why more kids are autistic now, and if one just avoids vaccines they will be safe, when the reality is autism has gone up for many reasons, including decreasing stigma, looser diagnostic criteria, more awareness, government benefits tied to specific diagnoses, and likely a variety of genetic and environmental factors that are unknown and largely beyond our control.
I am a pediatrician and I definitely think the mis/disinformation and feeling a sense of control are the key reasons that my patients refuse vaccines. Although the RSV vaccine has had a surprisingly pretty good uptake (but it also because a lot of parents know infants that have had severe rsv) and it only one shot vs something like the flu vaccine which is having lower uptake this season in children and has to be given yearly.
Delighted to hear about an effective treatment for FIP. My first job out of medical school was in Lafayette, Indiana. I adopted a couple of pregnant stray cats, and soon had a couple litters of kittens. However, within a couple of weeks, they all got sick. Local vet referred me to Purdue vet school. We were a place of interest for several vet students for a few days for the students to see FIP in its various presentations. But, sadly, even they could not reverse the illness at that time, and all felines were euthanized to avoid further misery.
I follow a blogger whose kitten developed wet FIP just a few months ago. They live in Canada but thankfully (as of this year!) they were able to get the GS treatment for him, and his turnaround has been absolutely remarkable. He had even developed myocarditis from the FIP, and the drugs helped return his heart to normal! The comments on their blog are filled with people who in years past had lost cats and kittens to FIP just expressing how absolutely grateful they are to live at a time where this one tiny kitten (and many more like him) can survive and go on to thrive.
I worked in a vet clinic in the early Parvo days. I knew there was a parvo puppy as soon as I opened the back door. It’s an unforgettable smell. The vets did everything in their power but most died while I held their tiny bodies wrapped in warm towels. We all cried for the sweet puppies while mopping and bleaching everything in the clinic. I will never forget how helpless everyone felt. I’m so grateful for the vaccine that prevented such suffering for our beloved pups, the clients and the vet team.
Amen! You can still identify the uncommon parvo cases when they hit by that uniquely rank odor (there's a reason people say "Smells like parvo!"). It makes me unbelievably angry when I come across strangers on the internet claiming that parvo isn't a serious illness or that the vaccines aren't important.
Great piece, Eric. Thank you. There is no doubt that our health care system is riddled with inequity, inefficiency, and myriad other problems. This causes a lot of pain, frustration, and damage to people’s well being, and I think as a nation we can do better. But as your piece points out, the progress that has been made scientifically in addressing serious human (and animal) diseases is irrefutable. Without vaccines and antibiotics, one of three or thereabouts of us would not have made it out of childhood.
I will never understand why people have such a bad attitude about vaccines and refuse to believe facts and research. So much ignorance exists today.
When I try and put on my empathy hat, I think it comes down to two things. First, the medical and scientific establishment have definitely made mistakes in the past. Overprescribing opioids in the 2000s caused a lot of deaths and suffering. Some, but not all, of that was due to kickbacks and shady behavior by drug companies like Purdue. During the covid-19 pandemic, intentions were good, but mistakes were also made here, like confusing messaging around whether masks did or didn't work, a 6 foot distance between people that was not based on solid data, and extended school closures. All of these things cost us trust, and it's a death by a thousand cuts. Second, conspiracy theories are often a response to a chaotic world that feels out of control. It is easier to believe vaccines are why more kids are autistic now, and if one just avoids vaccines they will be safe, when the reality is autism has gone up for many reasons, including decreasing stigma, looser diagnostic criteria, more awareness, government benefits tied to specific diagnoses, and likely a variety of genetic and environmental factors that are unknown and largely beyond our control.
I am a pediatrician and I definitely think the mis/disinformation and feeling a sense of control are the key reasons that my patients refuse vaccines. Although the RSV vaccine has had a surprisingly pretty good uptake (but it also because a lot of parents know infants that have had severe rsv) and it only one shot vs something like the flu vaccine which is having lower uptake this season in children and has to be given yearly.
Delighted to hear about an effective treatment for FIP. My first job out of medical school was in Lafayette, Indiana. I adopted a couple of pregnant stray cats, and soon had a couple litters of kittens. However, within a couple of weeks, they all got sick. Local vet referred me to Purdue vet school. We were a place of interest for several vet students for a few days for the students to see FIP in its various presentations. But, sadly, even they could not reverse the illness at that time, and all felines were euthanized to avoid further misery.
So sorry to hear that, it’s a terrible virus 😔
I follow a blogger whose kitten developed wet FIP just a few months ago. They live in Canada but thankfully (as of this year!) they were able to get the GS treatment for him, and his turnaround has been absolutely remarkable. He had even developed myocarditis from the FIP, and the drugs helped return his heart to normal! The comments on their blog are filled with people who in years past had lost cats and kittens to FIP just expressing how absolutely grateful they are to live at a time where this one tiny kitten (and many more like him) can survive and go on to thrive.
I love hearing stories like this so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️ FIP is truly one of the worst diseases I've ever seen in an animal
I worked in a vet clinic in the early Parvo days. I knew there was a parvo puppy as soon as I opened the back door. It’s an unforgettable smell. The vets did everything in their power but most died while I held their tiny bodies wrapped in warm towels. We all cried for the sweet puppies while mopping and bleaching everything in the clinic. I will never forget how helpless everyone felt. I’m so grateful for the vaccine that prevented such suffering for our beloved pups, the clients and the vet team.
Amen! You can still identify the uncommon parvo cases when they hit by that uniquely rank odor (there's a reason people say "Smells like parvo!"). It makes me unbelievably angry when I come across strangers on the internet claiming that parvo isn't a serious illness or that the vaccines aren't important.
Nostalgia shades our view of the past. Longing for a past never experienced has another name for it, ‘anemoia’. https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/anemoia-nostalgia
I only need one chart. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1041693/united-states-all-time-child-mortality-rate/
Another amazing commentary
Fantastic article. Thank you!
Great piece, Eric. Thank you. There is no doubt that our health care system is riddled with inequity, inefficiency, and myriad other problems. This causes a lot of pain, frustration, and damage to people’s well being, and I think as a nation we can do better. But as your piece points out, the progress that has been made scientifically in addressing serious human (and animal) diseases is irrefutable. Without vaccines and antibiotics, one of three or thereabouts of us would not have made it out of childhood.