As a geek without kids (so far), I sometimes stumble across the phenomenon in my circle of friends that some parents refuse to vaccinate their children. Honestly, I’ve never understood why—and to be fair, I never really looked deeply into it.
To my surprise, it seems to be far more common than I thought. I grew up in a family and environment where getting vaccinated was simply normal. Not long ago, diseases like mumps, measles, or rubella would flare up into epidemics and claim hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Only through vaccination were we able to bring them under control.
Many of these diseases could already be eradicated today if enough people—especially children—were vaccinated. Vaccination isn’t just about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting those around you: people who are not vaccinated, people who cannot be vaccinated, or people with weakened immune systems. That’s what’s known as herd immunity.
So why do parents refuse to vaccinate? They’re afraid their children will get sick. They’ve heard myths about vaccines causing autism. But these are just that—myths, without any scientific basis. The only scientific proof we actually have is this: vaccines work, and vaccines save lives. Yes, in extremely rare cases there can be serious side effects. But the risk of not being vaccinated is far greater.
And the autism myth? That one has been thoroughly studied—by scientists, using scientific methods. It’s false. Autism is a serious and tragic condition, but vaccines are not among its causes.
How did I come across this topic again? I read an article on Stern Online. It was a translated piece by an American scientist, backed by dozens of references, clearly laying out why refusing vaccination is—well, to put it bluntly—stupid. (Sorry, but I can’t think of a better word.) I didn’t read every single source, but I did check a fair number, and the reasoning is compelling. For me, a scientifically sound explanation will always be worth more than vague, unprovable pseudo-arguments. But that’s how it goes—same story as with homeopathy.
