Re: Polio vaccine is American plot: Mullahs
This is very dangerous. And needs urgent action from Musharraf. Though i am sure he will not do anything about it, coz vaccine or no vaccine does not affect US, so Musharraf will damn care.
This practice of not vaccinating kids not only affects the kids who are not vaccinated but also the kids who are. Even the vaccinated kids will be at an increased risk of this illness which can leave a kid disabled for life.
There is something called “herd immnunity”. Means that if most people in a community are immune to polio virus, it will also protect people who are not immune, coz there chances of coming in contact with virus are much reduced. Not all vaccinated kids develop 100% immunity against disease, hence masss immunization protects kids who may not be 100% immune despite vaccination. Leaving such a large number of un-vacinated kids means, other vaccinated kids who have not developed full immunity are also now vulnerable.
This is a matter of public health and not individual choice and hence gvernment should step in and even use force if necessary.
By the way its not just MUllahs of NWFP who refuse vaccine, many rednecks too are doing same thing.
http://www.nsba.org/site/doc_sbn_issue.asp?TRACKID=&VID=55&CID=1151&DID=31446
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/2005/salmon_vaccines.html