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The Forum > Article Comments > The disease pendulum is finely balanced > Comments

The disease pendulum is finely balanced : Comments

By Peter Curson, published 9/5/2006

Immunisation is not a 100 per cent defence against disease.

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Perhaps someone can explain what are the financial costs involved in a cape of Mumps,Measles and Rubella as against the cost of the vacine.
Posted by Vioetbou, Tuesday, 9 May 2006 7:13:26 PM
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Vioetbous', I suggest that the financial costs associated with production and admistration of vaccines for the whole community may seem excessive when compared with the actual medical costs associated with treating a disease occuring in limited numbers. But this is not the whole story ... other real financial costs are realised when parents have to take time off work to care for their sick children. This is also the case for adults who develop the disease. Financial costs are one issues but we mustn't forget the cost of human suffering.

"it is sobering to realise that the disease pendulum is finely balanced"
Yes it is sobering and I have no doubt that Prof. Peter Curson is worried but should we be suprised? Don't living organisms have the ability to evolve, gather information within their environment and adapt within it to ensure survival? Not a bad plan really! There have been many opportunities for the mumps, measles etc to evolve or mutate. Prof. Curson has pointed out are many unprotected 'hosts' walking around (the 5% who don't sero-convert, those with limited (time) cover, those who missed out due to world shortage of vaccine). I want to add to this group - parents who deliberately choose not to vaccinate their children for fear of the "side effects" of the actual live attenuated vaccines themselves. These people are fertile ground for any virus to gather infromation to adapt.
Yes, we should be worried...worried enough to give any rise in incidence of these disease its due attention. All financial costs aside, lets consider the cost of human suffering.
Posted by Mags, Friday, 12 May 2006 11:04:26 AM
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