More anti-vaccination tragedy

If the alternative is death by a preventable disease, stick me

The lunacy of anti-vaccination kooks is not confined solely to America, Europe and Australia. In fact, it seems that Zimbabwe is also in the grips of a particularly dangerous group of religious antivaxxers, whose beliefs and actions have been linked to the untimely and extremely preventable deaths of over 100 children due to a resurgence of Measles.

A religous sect known as the Vapositori has been implicated in the deaths of more than 100 children from measles, a Zimbabwe government report has revealed.

Members of the faith refuse on religious grounds to have their children immunised.

But the latest epidemiological report from the government pits the Vapositori against public outrage at the preventable deaths of children.

At least 110 children in Zimbabwe have died of measles since September last year, most of them in areas where the sect is known to have a strong influence.

Leaders of the Vapositori discourage members from visiting clinics or hospitals, preferring prayer.

And then, they tell us that it’s vaccines that are the problem and pumping people (and children) full of toxins and whatnot. Of course, despite the Everest-size mountains of evidence clearly demonstrating how these claims are utter bullshit – dangerous and deadly bullshit. As over one hundred tragically deceased Zimbabwean kids can now testify. (Metaphorically speaking.)

I’m all for religious freedom and the right of people to believe in whatever they wish, regardless of how delusional or kooky it may be. But as always, the line is drawn where their beliefs begin to infringe upon other people’s rights – namely, their right to stay healthy thanks to modern research and medicine. Antivaxxers may believe that vaccines are the work of the devil, but that does not allow them to prevent others from receiving them, even if against their well. (Yeah, I went there.)

The overall health of society trumps the freedom of belief of those who believe in such nonsense, and as such, I fully agree with this move from the Zimbabwean government:

However, because of the high number of measles deaths, the government is considering making it illegal for sect members to prevent immunisation.

Portia Mananganzira, acting director of epidemiological disease control in the health ministry, said the government was looking at ways to ensure every child was immunised, regardless of religious affiliation.

Everyone needs to be vaccinated if we are to keep herd immunisation active (where preventable diseases are kept to low or nonexistent levels thanks to the vast majority of people being inoculated). Personally, I don’t give a damn if you don’t believe in vaccines; you need to get your shots, for the sake of the common good of everyone, not just yourself.

And the last thing everyone needs is ignorant, unscientific and religiously-motivated cranks going around encouraging people not to get their shots, or even prohibiting them outright. This is nothing less than indirect and unintentional murder. Don’t believe me? Ask anyone who had children, siblings, friends and other loved ones die from diseases that vaccinations specifically protect against. Ask them if they don’t think their departed loved ones were taken by a killer mindset.

(via Bad Astronomy)