tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post6375323129879121064..comments2024-01-30T05:22:06.674-08:00Comments on A Majority of Two: Is There A Vaccination Against Ignorance...?Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-60747303281634649562011-09-26T16:08:50.619-07:002011-09-26T16:08:50.619-07:00JR, Hi...! Nice to see you again. Well, yes, tha...JR, Hi...! Nice to see you again. Well, yes, that is exactly why all school children should be vaccinated against HPV at an early age, so as they get older, it will be one less thing they have to be concerned about. As you well know, people are ... people, and we can't change human nature, but we can protect folks from certain diseases.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-43548988006840970642011-09-26T14:28:50.516-07:002011-09-26T14:28:50.516-07:00Jo, this is all fine and dandy; unfortunately, I d...Jo, this is all fine and dandy; unfortunately, I deal with the lowest of low class folks who do not know nor care about sexually transmitted diseases ... they live for the moment. It's sad, truly truly sad, but I've spent too much energy trying to educate dummies. And for what? <br /><br />We plod forward and try to make this world a better place and it's a constant struggle.jrthumbprintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14552633595464969740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-58650119373703303462011-09-26T08:31:55.540-07:002011-09-26T08:31:55.540-07:00Such a fine discussion!
Where I live, near Seat...Such a fine discussion! <br /><br />Where I live, near Seattle, there's a vocal group of parents refusing to vaccinate their children. I think it started from the suspicion that the MMR was causing autism. I believe that has been debunked, but still.<br /><br />We have a crazy medical system in the States. I look to the north with envy.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-89502689507729513162011-09-26T07:25:37.307-07:002011-09-26T07:25:37.307-07:00Philip, Hi! And thank you. As you can see, it is...Philip, Hi! And thank you. As you can see, it is something I feel very strongly about, and listening to the American politicians <em>*politicizing*</em> it makes me very angry.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-33668336085456501872011-09-26T05:52:51.688-07:002011-09-26T05:52:51.688-07:00This has GOT to be the post of the year Jo. Brill...This has GOT to be the post of the year Jo. Brilliantly written, great rebuttal of some comments and thoroughly intelligent - as per usual.<br />I think you could now name your blog "An Outright Majority" and no mistake.<br />Great stuff, and so glad that Mark reproduced it too.PhilipHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811831703263176415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-65069565333124910702011-09-25T22:11:02.606-07:002011-09-25T22:11:02.606-07:00Judy, oh gosh, *heh* I didn't mean it to sound...Judy, oh gosh, *heh* I didn't mean it to sound like a sermon. But I guess I am passionate about a vaccine for any type of cancer, yes. :-)<br /><br />Sextant, well, thank you again for the lovely compliment. I indeed do feel complimented whenever anyone tells me I am intelligent. To me, that is worth its weight in gold. And yes, I try to debate things here without getting personal. People can discuss the issues quite freely, and it's okay to disagree. That's what makes great conversation.<br /><br />Calvin, you are so right. We take risks everyday, and nothing is risk-free. And yes, mercy killing of ill-informed, stupid, ranting politicians on the basis it would be merciful for us would be a good thing...! They just cloud issues of which they have no knowledge whatsoever.<br /><br />Susan, fortunately in Canada, the pharmaceutical companies don't have the same control over health care, and it's too bad that Gardasil became so politicized. But, working at the CDC, I have attended seminars and read all the literature (and there is a lot) about the vaccine for cervical cancer, and I think it will be proven as effective as the researchers say it is. I think it is human nature for us to be wary of any new vaccines, medications, treatments, etc. But I strongly believe Gardasil and Cervarix are going to save lives ~~ male as well as female. The CDC is in charge of the inoculation program in the school here, much like the polio vaccines in the 1950s/60s, which also proved to be a God-send.<br /><br />Charlene, thank you for the giggle. Yes...! Well, I must say we have stupid politicians here in Canada too, but fortunately they are fairly innocuous. :-)Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-19751124533672815512011-09-25T21:28:51.480-07:002011-09-25T21:28:51.480-07:00If we vaccinated against ignorance, who would I sp...If we vaccinated against ignorance, who would I spend my day making fun of?lovelyprismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288078574913082064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-63672021139516373222011-09-25T20:46:55.681-07:002011-09-25T20:46:55.681-07:00Unfortunately, ignorance will always be with us. M...Unfortunately, ignorance will always be with us. Many of the world's people are ignorantly active.<br /><br />I don't know enough about Gardisil to have an intelligent opinion of it and since my daughters are both grown I don't have to. But I am extremely wary of the pharmaceutical industry's control over so many aspects of American health care, along with the insurance carriers and politicians. <br /><br />I do not believe that health decisions should ever be made by non-medical personnel, and I think Katy's determination to protect her daughter from those who have no concerns for her welfare except as a future voter is most appropriate. Perhaps this vaccine will turn out to be a good thing, but as far as I know, that has not been determined at this time.heartinsanfranciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535397382991383931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-90212297662829081312011-09-25T19:57:07.532-07:002011-09-25T19:57:07.532-07:00Unfortunately, many in the general public don'...Unfortunately, many in the general public don't understand the concept of relative risk and of cost-benefit. For them, it is an all or nothing approach; i.e. the vaccine must give 100% protection with 0% risk. Nothing, not even widely used aspirin can be that good.<br /><br />There may be still no vaccine against stupidity but would it be mercy killing if we got rid of ill-informed, stupid, ranting politicians on the basis it would be merciful for us?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-42062397365223116072011-09-25T16:41:25.670-07:002011-09-25T16:41:25.670-07:00Very lovely quote:
"There are times and pla...Very lovely quote: <br /><br /><i>"There are times and places where one's voice needs to be heard above the clamor of others who may think differently or wish to go in a different direction. The need to raise one's 'voice' is not a call to shout or to shout down others, but to preserve one's integrity of belief and feeling so that one can become a 'majority of one'"</i>.<br /><br />And I would say that you have achieved that goal rather nicely except perhaps you need a new name, "The Majority of 800". You have a well behaved bunch of followers. I like how things are discussed here without the vitriol that so often accompanies differences of opinion these days. Jo you have a magnificent head on your shoulders and I consider it a blessing that you allow us to peek at what is inside it.Sextanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02869179401767968180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-58407021838372442052011-09-25T16:28:08.862-07:002011-09-25T16:28:08.862-07:00You are so right! Thanks for the sermon.You are so right! Thanks for the sermon.kenjuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-73780157682988476792011-09-25T15:00:34.451-07:002011-09-25T15:00:34.451-07:00Kurt, Hi! Yes, it works on the humanpapilloma vir...Kurt, Hi! Yes, it works on the humanpapilloma virus, which both males and females can get.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-12038546021968863852011-09-25T14:43:26.912-07:002011-09-25T14:43:26.912-07:00I was unaware that it worked on males...I was unaware that it worked on males...KrippledWarriorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09693973753642324616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-50078210445138453032011-09-25T14:28:54.490-07:002011-09-25T14:28:54.490-07:00Jeanette, you're welcome. :-) It's somet...Jeanette, you're welcome. :-) It's something I feel strongly about.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-36463618668978022122011-09-25T14:22:52.417-07:002011-09-25T14:22:52.417-07:00Excellent. Thank you for posting this, Jo.Excellent. Thank you for posting this, Jo.JeannetteLShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528285846408727632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-11498849088680091502011-09-25T09:34:46.506-07:002011-09-25T09:34:46.506-07:00Sextant, you are so right. This is a public healt...Sextant, you are so right. This is a public health issue. Gardasil will save lives and it will save billions of dollars in health care. You are so right...!<br /><br />And thank you for the compliment. When I started my blog, I didn't want it to be just a "photo" blog, or a "mommy" blog, or a "food" blog. I wanted it to be a forum where I could discuss things. I once read the quote; <em>"There are times and places where one's voice needs to be heard above the clamor of others who may think differently or wish to go in a different direction. The need to raise one's 'voice' is not a call to shout or to shout down others, but to preserve one's integrity of belief and feeling so that one can become a 'majority of one'."</em> But I preferred 'Majority of Two', meaning me, and whomever might read my little blog. And that's how my blog got its name. In recent months I have become sort of 'boring' because I had lost my 'voice', but I'm getting it back. :-)<br /><br />Jo, you're a very wise woman...! That is just one more thing that your daughter is now protected from.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-37040139384005838462011-09-25T06:32:16.056-07:002011-09-25T06:32:16.056-07:00Amen, Jo!
Well said, as always. You can bet my pr...Amen, Jo!<br /><br />Well said, as always. You can bet my precious daughter had that vaccination the moment it was available.<br /><br />How very naive and shortsighted to ignore the consequences of not using it. Tsk, tsk.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937847762010497687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-79507532011544132372011-09-24T23:02:35.386-07:002011-09-24T23:02:35.386-07:00Jo,
Off topic question, forgive me.
I am new to...Jo,<br /><br />Off topic question, forgive me. <br /><br />I am new to your blog and must confess a curiosity to the meaning of its name, A Majority of Two. I went back to your oldest post in November of 2008 but apparently you had been in business already and had lost the older posts. <br /><br />So do tell, what is the story behind <i> A Majority of Two?</i>Sextanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02869179401767968180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-59835385713815518282011-09-24T22:43:48.344-07:002011-09-24T22:43:48.344-07:00@Paula,
My guess is that you are far more moral....@Paula, <br /><br />My guess is that you are far more moral. You just don't advertise it as much. <br /><br />I don't think of this as being a moral issue, I think of it as being a public health issue. Disregard the personal morality of the individuals involved, do we not have the moral obligation to prevent disease where ever we can regardless of the cause. If society is devoting X number of dollars to treat HPV related illnesses, then that is X number of dollars being denied to other needs. When you have a vaccine that can save many millions of dollars in health care costs down the road, I believe as a society we are obligated to pursue that path. <br /><br />Jo once again you have brought up a touchy subject and discussed it with great intelligence and sensitivity. This has been an excellent discussion, and you are to be commended on both your knowledge in this area and the sincerity and objectivity in which you present it. Nothing short of excellence.Sextanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02869179401767968180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-23220115073410802522011-09-24T22:22:17.813-07:002011-09-24T22:22:17.813-07:00Paula, yes I agree. Unfortunately, if the disease...Paula, yes I agree. Unfortunately, if the disease were spread by people rubbing elbows, or shaking hands, there would be no moral issue attached to it. However, the human body doesn't understand morality when it comes to infection. Infection is infection, no matter how it is contracted. But that is what is clouding the issue. Perfectly nice people get cancer ~~ all the time. If there is a vaccine to prevent it, so much the better...!Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-69419657480797818422011-09-24T21:59:43.066-07:002011-09-24T21:59:43.066-07:00Rick Perry IS a sleezy politician and did stand to...Rick Perry IS a sleezy politician and did stand to gain personally from promoting the vaccination. That is an unfortunate side issue. It in no way subtracts from the merit of vaccinating to prevent disease.<br /><br />Although fairly liberal politically, I would bet I am as conservative morally in my personal life as the crazed Ms. Bachmann. I still see no benefit to me in people running around spreading preventable disease.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06625526746032032681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-89995126168568516332011-09-24T20:58:51.228-07:002011-09-24T20:58:51.228-07:00Leslie, now is the time to do it. It's a medi...Leslie, now is the time to do it. It's a medical issue, not a moral issue. It's a safeguard, and I think it's incredible. Who cares what age the children are vaccinated? It's not a moral issue.<br /><br />Katy, we don't have the same problems with politicans meddling into matters of health to such a degree here in Canada. Gardasil is not a drug. Drugs are ongoing medications used to cure medical conditions. Gardasil is vaccination against the disease taking a foothold. And yes, HPV is as bad as smallpox and polio ~~ perhaps even worse in many ways. It's silent, an individual doesn't know they have been infected, and it wreaks its deadly course until it kills. The cancers caused by the HPV virus have killed more people than polio. I think Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines are a miracle. However, having said that, I am not looking at it through the same prism that you are in Texas. That is why I object so much to politicians getting involved in these matters. The doctors and researchers must be heartsick at what Perry is doing ~~ and alternatively, Bachmann too. Neither one is qualified to give opinions on HPV or the vaccines against them. I'm hoping there will be more vaccines against cancers in the coming years, and if there are, I hope the politicians mind their own business.<br /><br />This is from the website where I work:<br /><br /><em>Prevention: Vaccination is 100% effective in preventing the effects of four kinds of HPV infection. These four types of HPV can cause:<br /><br />cancer of the cervix, vulva and vagina (types 16 and 18), as well as genital and anal warts (types 6 and 11). These four types of HPV cause:<br /><br />7 out of 10 cases of cervical cancers;<br />9 out of 10 cases of genital warts;<br />Other diseases such as cancer of the vagina and the vulva;<br />The risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners and having unprotected sex. <br /><br />Using a condom protects against HPV infections. However, condoms cannot cover all the skin surfaces around the genitals and the anus, and therefore does not guarantee complete protection against HPV."</em><br /><br />You can also read some more material here:<br /><br />http://www.bccdc.ca/dis-cond/a-z/_h/HumanPapillomavirus/default.htm<br /><br />It's very interesting and informative, and I hope everyone reads all the publications there.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-41329540330009521052011-09-24T19:53:16.597-07:002011-09-24T19:53:16.597-07:00Jo, you're right. If and when my doctor tells ...Jo, you're right. If and when my doctor tells me to vaccinate my daughter. I will.<br /><br />I won't listen to Politicians....<br /><br />Gardasil was approved by the FDA in June of 2006. Perry signed his executive order in February of 2007. To me, that's insane. You are mandating children be injected with a drug of which we have no idea what its long term effects will be. <br /><br />HPV is not smallpox or even Polio. There is no reason for a government to demand such a drastic wide spread use of such a young drug.<br /><br />I have no problem with people getting their daughter's vaccinated against HPV. I have no problem with people using this drug themselves if they so choose. <br /><br />I have a HUGE problem with my Governor selling my child's health for personal gain.<br /><br />I think you need to read into this specific situation more. Perry really is all about politics and money.Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610117543051640146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-70177059520187436542011-09-24T18:20:44.300-07:002011-09-24T18:20:44.300-07:00well said, Josie. Girls in middle school are alrea...well said, Josie. Girls in middle school are already being vaccinated with Gardasil, even though they are still far from becoming sexually active (I hope).Leslie:https://www.blogger.com/profile/11964698251137788839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518800171649154035.post-42109095889494944042011-09-24T15:30:51.170-07:002011-09-24T15:30:51.170-07:00Djan, gosh, there are no guarantees. But we have c...Djan, gosh, there are no guarantees. But we have come a long way in the 21st Century, and we should take advantage of the scientific enlightenment. I hope you don't get the flu...! :-)Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382221688268676914noreply@blogger.com