#Vaccines and immunisation

[h1p3rn0v4]

Algunas de las 265.000 dosis donadas a la República Democrática del Congo por la UE y los EE. UU. se administraron en la ciudad oriental de Goma, en la provincia de Kivu del Norte, donde los hospitales y los trabajadores de la salud se han visto desbordados y han luchado por contener la nueva y posiblemente más infecciosa cepa de mpox.

[pale-blue-home]

💉💪 Malaria elimination progress has prevented more than 2 billion cases and 13 million deaths since 2000! WHO has certified 45 countries and 1 territory as malaria-free to date, with 25 malaria-endemic countries reporting fewer than 10 cases in 2023. Years of global collaboration, vaccine programs, and developing tools like insecticide-treated nets have played vital roles in these gains.

[burninglights]

The two most powerful words in the English language, owed entirely to the efficacy of vaccines, are thus;

“Smallpox was.”

For most of history, smallpox was (!!!) the scourge that haunted human civilisations. We have evidence of smallpox from mummies c. 1350BCE in Egypt. It’s speculated to be one of causative agents of the Plague of Athens c. 430BCE. There were outbreaks of smallpox in Angola in 1484, in South Africa in 1731 that wiped out entire clans of Khoisan people. There was at least one major smallpox epidemic almost every decade across Europe.

Smallpox was transmitted by droplet/aerosol infection; it tore through even the smallest population centres. Typical smallpox incurred a blistering fever, raised pustules, debilitating joint and back pain; if you lived — and that was a fat fucking if, as typical smallpox had a mortality rate of 30% — you’d have tell-tale pockmark scarring, and face stigma for the rest of your life. Some were left blinded.

The worst form of the disease was haemorrhagic smallpox; all the agony of typical smallpox, with the addition of skin haemorrhage and pinpoint haemorrhage in the spleen, liver, kidneys and gonads. Near-universally fatal, haemorrhagic smallpox made up 5-10% of all cases. Of this number, 72% were children.

The global smallpox vaccination campaigns of 1958 to 1977 were a monumental effort by the World Health Organization and its global associates, backed by incredibly diligent public health work and epidemiological monitoring.

Wherever there were outbreaks, there was herd immunisation. Health bodies campaigned tirelessly for the general population to be immunised. In the ‘70s, a concerted effort was made by the WHO to ensure vaccines were administered in the most remote and vulnerable communities in the Horn of Africa, South Asia and the Pacific.

In 1980, the world was officially, finally free of one of it’s oldest adversaries; universal vaccination had been achieved, and there was no population that could act as a reservoir for smallpox.

If mankind has only one great achievement, it’s the smallpox vaccine; to date, smallpox is the only human disease to be completely eradicated.

After over two millennia of suffering, mass disability and death, humanity finally had the means to give one of it’s biggest threats the biggest possible fuck you, and through scientific and public health collaboration, careful epidemiological monitoring and countless hours of on-the-ground vaccination efforts, managed to blot it from existence entirely.

Where there is vaccine coverage, childhood diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates like whooping cough, diphtheria, influenza B and have dropped.

We have vaccines for TB, another of our greatest and longest adversaries.

With enough effort to counter misinformation, more people fighting for vaccine equality, patent free medication for communicable disease, and universal vaccine coverage, and everyone making sure to keep up to date with their vaccinations, one day, we could be fortunate enough to be able to say;

“Tuberculosis was.”

Remember, history was awful. Never trust the romantics.

[lmsintmedia]

UNICEF Sounds Alarm Over Rising Polio Threat in Lagos State

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised serious concerns regarding the return of polio in Lagos State, urging immediate and sustained action to protect children through routine immunisation. Polio Resurgence Poses Threat to Children’s Health in Lagos During the 2025 edition of World Immunisation Week and Walk for Polio campaign held in Lagos, Celine Lafoucriere, the Head of…

[sophiamcdougall]

At the lesbian meetup, met a kind of transphobic woman. Started gearing up to get fighty and then realised... she wasn't an actual terf. She was just older, genuinely didn't know stuff, had heard some terf talking points in passing and had been made kind of anxious by them, but hadn't made it her entire personality. She was open to learning that trans women weren't actually roaming around coercing unwilling cis lesbians into sex, thanked me earnestly for giving her a basic explanation of what "non-binary" meant and truly seemed to be relaxing bit by bit the more she heard. Obviously I'm aware that I can't be sure I've given her a sufficient dose of anti-transphobe vaccine to immunise her permanently against the shit that's out there, but overall it made me hopeful. Most people just aren't dyed-in-the-wool bigots. People can be curious and relieved to hear the fearmongering they've been exposed to is untrue. Telling people this stuff isn't a lost cause.

[kazifatagar]

Revisiting the Importance of Childhood Immunisation

By Associate Professor Dr Neoh Siew Hong, Associate Professor Dr Chee Seok Chiong, and Dr Lim Yin Sear, who are academics specialising in Paediatrics at the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Taylor’s University. The measles outbreak in Penampang, Sabah this past January is an example of suboptimal vaccine coverage in a population. This further emphasises the…

[drmoses]

Unveiling the Cost Dynamics: A Comprehensive Study of HPV Vaccination in Zambia

🔬 Exciting Research Alert! 🔬 I’m proud to share our latest study on “Cost Evaluation of HPV Vaccination in Zambia,” published in BMC Infectious Diseases. This comprehensive analysis reveals the economic and financial implications of the HPV vaccination program, crucial for cervical cancer prevention.Key findings include:– School-based delivery is most cost-effective, highlighting the strategic…

[northsydneyfamilydoctors]

Armoured Against Illness? - North Sydney Family Doctors

Childhood Immunisations North Sydney - Community Well-Being

We prioritize the well-being of our young patients, making childhood immunisations a vital part of our service offerings in North Sydney and McMahons Point.

In a world full of germs, be the shield! Our Immunisations and Vaccinations service equips you and your loved ones against a plethora of diseases. Swing by North Sydney Family Doctors to fortify your family's health defense line!

Childhood Immunisations at North Sydney Family Hospital

Protecting your child against potentially dangerous infectious diseases is one of the most significant health decisions you'll make as a parent. At North Sydney Family Hospital, we prioritize the well-being of our young patients, making childhood immunisations a vital part of our service offering. In this comprehensive guide, delve into the significance of childhood immunisations, how it functions, and the multiple benefits it offers to your child and the broader community.

Understanding Childhood Immunisation

What is it? 

At its core, childhood immunisations involves administering vaccines to render individuals immune to particular diseases. The term 'vaccination' refers to the act of receiving the vaccine, while childhood immunisations denotes the process by which one becomes immune post-vaccination.

How does it work?

Vaccines of childhood immunisations often contain weakened or inactivated versions of the disease-causing organism or its parts. Upon administration, the immune system identifies these as threats, subsequently producing antibodies to combat them. This "training" ensures that if the individual encounters the actual disease later, their immune system is prepared to fend it off.

Childhood Immunisations What Are They Protected Against?

Following Australia's National Immunisation Schedule, children receive vaccinations for childhood immunisations against a host of diseases. From chickenpox and measles to whooping cough and hepatitis B, timely vaccinations ensure your child's comprehensive protection. For specifics tailored to your child's health needs, always consult with our medical team.

Addressing Common Concerns related to childhood immunisations

Pain and Discomfort: While some discomfort or pain at the injection site is normal, it’s typically short-lived. Gentle comfort measures, like holding or breastfeeding, can soothe your child after childhood immunisations.

Side Effects: Most vaccine side of childhood immunisations’ effects are mild and temporary. Common reactions include mild fever, fussiness, or swelling at the injection site. Severe reactions are rare, but always reach out to our medical team with any concerns.

Safety: Before their use in Australia, vaccines undergo rigorous testing for safety, quality, and effectiveness.

Why Choose North Sydney Family Hospital for Childhood Immunisations?

Experienced Medical Team

Our team comprises some of the region's top paediatricians and healthcare professionals, ensuring your child receives the highest quality care.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

From modern equipment to the latest in healthcare technology, our hospital is equipped to offer the best in patient care and diagnostics for better childhood immunisations.

Patient-Centric Approach

We understand every child is unique. Our team is committed to providing personalized care, tailored to meet individual health needs during childhood immunisations.

Comprehensive Services

Beyond childhood immunisations, we offer a range of paediatric services, ensuring a continuum of care for your child's health journey.

Prompt Service

We understand the value of time, especially when it comes to children. Our streamlined processes ensure minimal wait times and efficient service.

Safe Environment

Prioritizing patient safety, our facility adheres to stringent hygiene and safety protocols, offering peace of mind to every visiting family.

At North Sydney Family Hospital, we firmly believe that childhood immunisations is a cornerstone of public health, ensuring not just individual protection but community well-being. As parents and guardians, your decision to childhood immunisations can be the protective shield your child needs against many preventable diseases. For more information on childhood immunisations or to schedule an appointment, kindly reach out to our dedicated team.

[keysboroughsuperclinic]

Get the ATAGI from Keysborough Superclinic ~ https://tinyurl.com/ymdlqyc

[reasonsforhope]

Article

"Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer and another 660,000 are diagnosed. [Note: Plus trans men and other trans people with a cervix.] As a consequence, children are orphaned, families impoverished and communities diminished by the loss of mothers, wives, daughters and sisters. 

And yet, unlike most other cancers, almost all these cases and deaths can be averted. We have powerful vaccines that can prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer; we have diagnostics to detect it early; and we have treatments for those it strikes. With these tools, cervical cancer can not only be stopped; it could become the first cancer to be eliminated. Some high-income countries are already close to elimination, meaning fewer than four cases per 100,000 women.

But in many low- and middle-income countries, these tools are still not available, which is why 94% of cervical cancer deaths occur in those countries. 

In 2018, WHO launched a global call to action to eliminate cervical cancer, which was followed in 2020 by the adoption by all 194 WHO Member States of a Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. The strategy calls for countries to achieve three targets by 2030: 90% of girls fully immunised against HPV; 70% of women receiving timely screening; and 90% of those found with precancer or cancer accessing treatment.

These targets are not just aspirational, they are achievable, even in low- and middle-income countries.  Bhutan has already reached the targets, the first to do so in the South-East Asia region. 

Since introducing the HPV vaccine in 2011, Rwanda has reached vaccine coverage of 90%, and today announced its national goal to reach the 90-70-90 targets three years ahead of schedule, by 2027. Already, in two districts – Gicumbi and Karongi – Rwanda is meeting those goals. Nigeria, which introduced the HPV vaccine in October last year [2023], has already vaccinated 12.3 million girls.  

We have the tools and the opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer. 

Since WHO issued the global call to action in 2018, more than 60 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine into their immunisation programmes, bringing the total to 144 countries that are routinely protecting girls from cervical cancer in later life. With scientific advances, we can now prevent cervical cancer with just a single dose, which 60 countries are now doing.  

The largest provider of HPV vaccines to low- and middle-income countries is Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which plans to vaccinate 120 million children between now and 2030. But this plan requires that investments in health are sustained. We are also counting on manufacturers to confirm and honour their commitments to provide HPV vaccines to low- and middle-income countries in the coming years, to avoid the supply constraints that held back progress in the past.

But we cannot rely on vaccines alone. The impact of the rapid scale-up in vaccinating girls now will not be seen for decades, when they reach the adult years when cervical cancer typically appears. To save lives now, we must match the increase  in vaccination with increases in screening and treatment. 

Decades ago, as more women gained access to pap smears in developed countries, the mortality associated with cervical cancer dropped rapidly. Today, even better tests are available. Over 60 countries now include high-performance HPV tests as part of their screening programs. Women can even collect their own samples for HPV testing, removing more barriers to life-saving services. In Australia – which is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to achieve elimination – more than a quarter of all screening tests are now done this way...

Several countries are also investigating the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy of screening in resource-limited settings. When women are found with precancerous lesions, many are now treated with portable battery-powered devices, which can be operated in remote locations."

-via The Telegraph, November 18, 2024. Article written by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

[writtenonbone]

Hello, I am curious. When you guys were in school did you have an ‘immunisation day’ where everyone get in lines to receive vaccinations?

[violetsandshrikes]

Want to bring attention to the fact that the US has announced it plans to end funding for Gavi.

If you're not familiar, Gavi is the vaccine alliance which vaccinates over half the worlds children against deadly disease. It was created in 2000, and has immunised over 822 million children, preventing over 14 million deaths and halved child mortality in 73 countries.

Gavi covers HPV, polio, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal/meningitis A, measles, rubella, pneumococcal, typhoid, cholera, rotavirus, yellow fever, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza/hepatitis B and ebola vaccines.

The US contributes roughly 1/4 of the funding for this programme. Every $1 spent on vaccinations in countries where Gavi operates saves at least $21 in "healthcare costs, lost wages and lost productivity from illness and death". John Hopkins has said that this programme averts up to $782 billion in costs in the next decade alone. While it may seem really cruel to point out money saved by this operation, it's really important to make the point that the US investing in Gavi isn't charity or charitable reasons. It has historically literally been because it's a investment in keeping deadly and costly outbreaks from their own shores.

If the US pulls funding, out of 500 million children that need these vaccines, 75 million will not be able to get them. The decision will ultimately result in the death of children globally. Pulling funding will also impact government and health agencies ability around the globe to stockpile vaccines.

This decision is incredibly alarming, one that is going to be deeply regretted, and something we should all be actively aware about and speaking against.

x x x x

[candymoth-art]

Hello guys!

Our very beloved boy Rex is in need of his first shots soon yayyyy unfortunately my father is kind of an antivax nut job (not yay). Due to my disability I can’t work and I’m not able to pay his vet bills with my pension alone. So I’m turning to you guys for aid! We need to raise 175 AUD for his vaccines.

All my commissions are 10% off with the code TREX10 and if you can donate but can’t afford a full commission I will give you a quick doodle of anything you want! Please share this around if you can! Let’s get this baby immunised!! Thank you for your support it means the world to me.

[darkmaga-returns]

…here are twenty five more studies that further irrefutably prove vaccines are dangerous, useless, and are directly responsible for the autism epidemic:

A two-phase study evaluating the relationship between Thimerosal-containing vaccine administration and the risk for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in the United States A positive association found between autism prevalence and childhood vaccination uptake across the U.S. population Commentary--Controversies surrounding mercury in vaccines: autism denial as impediment to universal immunisation Methodological issues and evidence of malfeasance in research purporting to show thimerosal in vaccines is safe Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002 Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? What is regressive autism and why does it occur? Is it the consequence of multi-systemic dysfunction affecting the elimination of heavy metals and the ability to regulate neural temperature? A case series of children with apparent mercury toxic encephalopathies manifesting with clinical symptoms of regressive autistic disorders A comprehensive review of mercury provoked autism Thimerosal Exposure and the Role of Sulfation Chemistry and Thiol Availability in Autism B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal Theoretical aspects of autism: causes--a review Conjugate vaccines and autism Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning A prospective study of thimerosal-containing Rho(D)-immune globulin administration as a risk factor for autistic disorders Hypothesis: conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders The potential importance of steroids in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders and other disorders involving mercury toxicity Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children Cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings up-regulate heat shock protein RNA in response to thimerosal challenge A possible central mechanism in autism spectrum disorders, part 1 The role of mercury in the pathogenesis of autism Transcriptomic analyses of neurotoxic effects in mouse brain after intermittent neonatal administration of thimerosal Causal relationship between vaccine induced immunity and autism Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism Subtle DNA changes and the overuse of vaccines in autism What is regressive autism and why does it occur? Is it the consequence of multi-systemic dysfunction affecting the elimination of heavy metals and the ability to regulate neural temperature?

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

By Karam Bales

The decision to further restrict access to vaccines “will leave many vulnerable people unprotected” warn academics and health professionals

Acoalition of academics and healthcare professionals have backed an open letter critical of the Government and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) decision to restrict access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Campaign group Clinically Vulnerable Families (CVF) has expressed concerns over vaccine access for autumn 2025 and spring 2026.

Until now, COVID policy prioritised protecting “at risk” groups such as those with chronic heart failure, COPD, or diabetes, but using a bespoke, non-standard cost-effectiveness assessment developed by the Department of Health and Social Care, the JCVI has advised that only the following groups should be offered vaccination in spring 2025:

adults aged 75 years and over residents in a care home for older adults individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in the ‘immunosuppression’ sections of tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book) The JCVI is also withdrawing its offer to pregnant women, despite them having been recognised for years by the NHS as being at increased risk.

Vaccinating pregnant women helps protect their babies; COVID has been linked to developmental issues. The UK is now one of only a small number of countries including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Turkmenistan, which doesn’t recommend COVID vaccines for pregnant women.

Professor Christina Pagel of University College London and Professor Sheena Cruickshank of the University of Manchester expressed their concerns about the JCVI’s decision in a piece for The Conversation, urging the JCVI to “either reverse its criteria on vaccination in pregnancy or provide a much more detailed and transparent explanation for why it has been discontinued”.

CVF’s letter highlights how restricting access to vaccines doesn’t align with “evidence based public health principles, as supported by the WHO, as we do for the NHS flu vaccination programme”. It prioritises a range of at risk groups including those with diabetes and asthma, and frontline health and care workers.

The JCVI has not released the full calculations and evidence base to explain the discrepancy in its approach to COVID compared to flu.

The study provided by the JCVI notes data for clinically vulnerable groups is limited, meaning the most at-risk could fall through the cracks.

CVF are concerned the JCVI is sending a message to at risk groups that the vaccine is no longer necessary and that they are safe, a signal many may trust and believe.

At risk individuals have the option of paying for vaccines, but this financial barrier will add to inequality.

The open letter notes that private COVID vaccinations are priced around £100 per dose “an amount far beyond the means of many at-risk people”. The price of vaccines supplied to the NHS are approximately £35.04.

“Private charges will leave many vulnerable people unprotected, amplifying health inequalities and increasing the need for recourse to antiviral treatments, ultimately leading to an increase in hospitalisations,” the letter explains.

Eligibility criteria for COVID antiviral treatments is at odds with the JCVI’s decision on vaccination, the letter notes.

In January, NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommended COVID antiviral treatments for those over 70, or with conditions such as diabetes, a BMI of at least 35 kg/m², and heart failure, acknowledging the strong evidence of a heightened risk to these groups.

The JCVI’s decision to withhold vaccines from this group is therefore both inconsistent with known risks and contradictory, as it will increase their reliance on more costly treatments.

CVF say “prioritising ‘cost-effectiveness’ over vulnerability sends a chilling message: That our lives are less valuable because protecting us isn’t deemed ‘efficient’.”

The focus on age-based thresholds ignores the reality for younger vulnerable groups, a 30-year-old in heart failure could face far higher risks than a healthy 70-year-old, yet this new policy would exclude them from protection.

The JCVI’s cost benefit analysis only took predicted hospitalisations and deaths into account. No consideration was given to Long COVID despite increasing evidence vaccination reduces risk.

Kit Yates Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and co-director of the Centre for Mathematical Biology at the University of Bath asks “Why wouldn’t you take long COVID into account when considering who should be vaccinated?”.

Yates continues, “quite apart from the health issues of the people who get it, it clearly has an enormous economic impact.”

Yates cites a recent paper estimating the economic burden of Long COVID in the UK to be over £20 billion per year from real cohort data due to functional limitations and fatigue.

The JCVI’s focus on hospitalisations and deaths is based on incomplete data. COVID hospital data is now significantly under-reported.

Since April 2023, most patients with COVID symptoms are no longer tested to confirm if they have it, unless they are in a vulnerable group eligible for antiviral treatment, meaning data on COVID hospitalisations and deaths will not be accurate.

There are also other post-COVID consequences besides Long COVID, for instance COVID has been linked to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and neurological harm.

The JCVI cites hybrid immunity, a combination of vaccination and infection acquired immunity as the reason they’re further restricting access to vaccines, however Professor Stephen Griffin, virologist at the University of Leeds, has criticised the JCVI’s reasoning, saying: “There are dozens of the usual platitudes, including the magical ‘endemic’. In my opinion, these are little more than misinformation, including the soothing balm of infection-induced immunity.”

Griffin warns, “we seem to value ‘normal’ over better, especially if it’s expensive up front, or gets in the way of ‘normal life’…but, complacency, ultimately, is also a devastating killer.”

[tozettastone]

Flu shots were never really a thing in my house growing up, in part because my parents were usually not very interested in child health obligations, and I think in part because my parents are both kind of... passively pro-vax? Like I got most of them, eventually, but usually only because a health professional went, "Hey, we don't have a record of tumblr user tozettastone's immunisation for X thing?" And then my parents would say: "Oh. Yeah. Sure. I guess. Go... do that." A yearly vaccination of varying efficacy stood no chance against their parenting style, which might be diplomatically described as "inconsistent."

The flu shot also wasn't really on my radar as a young adult. I moved out onto the couch of a lady I met via the university women's committee when I was 18. For a long time there wasn't much that was actually on my radar.

Anyway in my late 20s I actually got the flu. Flu-related complications took over three months to resolve. You will not be surprised to learn this put the yearly flu vax quite firmly on my radar. I told this to the immunisation lady while I was getting it yesterday and she was like: Ahhh. Yeah, mate, that'll do it.