The New York Times is reporting the virtual elimination of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) in Uganda. This follows an aggressive vaccination program against the bacterium, which also causes pneumonia, ear infections, and epiglotitis, a deadly throat infection.
This was a planned vaccination campaign, with the purpose of eliminating a disease, and it worked. About 5000 children used to die every year in Uganda from Hib meningitis, and tens of thousands more are sickened.
I’m curious to see what idiotic arguments the anti-vaccination cults come up with for this one. Guesses anyone?
March 13, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I have a hunch of what they’ll claim.
March 13, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Yes, me too. I can see it now: “vaccine spreads aids in africa!!11!one!eleven”
March 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I predict another campaign saying the WHO and MSF are campaigning to harm African children. That’s the old one and has already gotten doctors killed in various places. Unfortunately, it works.
Alternatively, they could blame the AIDS rates on “weakened immune” systems caused by vaccination. Or perhaps, though more unlikely, the coming Ug-99 grain (wheat) collapse on something mutated from a vaccine (worst science ever, but they can make it work).
March 13, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I knew a girl who thought that all vaccination success stories were the result of countries cleaning up their water supply. Whatever they come up with, I’m sure it’ll be more ridiculous than what we imagine.