In some areas, immunity has been eroded so much that the child who's not vaccinated is now actually more vulnerable to the complications of infectious diseases. Eula Biss areachildcomplication Change image and share on social
Imagine the action of a vaccine not just in terms of how it affects a single body, but also in terms of how it affects the collective body of a community. Eula Biss actionaffectbody Change image and share on social
I think that protecting children at the age where they're most vulnerable against diseases that are highly contagious is prudent. Eula Biss agechildcontagious Change image and share on social
When I was researching the Victorian anti-vaccination movement, those activists often used a vampire as a metaphor for the vaccinator. Eula Biss activistantimetaphor Change image and share on social
As for mercury, a child will almost certainly get more mercury exposure from her immediate environment than from vaccination. This is true, too, of the aluminum that is often used as an adjuvant in vaccines to intensify the immune response. Eula Biss adjuvantaluminumchild share on social
There's a lot of essay writing that could pass for journalism and journalism that could pass for essay. Some of it is just taxonomy. Eula Biss essayjournalismlot Change image and share on social
In the story of Thetis and Achilles, it's clear this isn't really a safe environment. She's gone down to the River Styx - the dead are being ferried across in the background. There's something in this mythology that says that if you want invulnerability, if you want immortality, you pay a price. Eula Biss achillebackgroundclear share on social
What I saw when I was doing research is that in pursuit of a middle ground, people will kind of split the difference between the two extremes that they're hearing. And I think what's problematic is that people are seeing vaccinating on schedule, on time, as an extreme position. Eula Biss differenceextremegrind share on social
Yes, we can make prudent choices as parents, but we can't create an environment where there's zero risk for our children. Not only is that impossible, I don't think it's desirable, either. Eula Biss childchoicecreate Change image and share on social
My own thinking is often clarified and extended by talking with students. Eula Biss clarifyextendstudent Change image and share on social