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Faith-Based Polio: Taliban Undermines Global Efforts To Eradicate Polio After Banning Vaccinations

220px-Polio_Egyptian_SteleThe Taliban has long personified the ignorance and intolerance found among religious extremists. Indeed, they first attracted international attention with their destruction of the famous giant Buddhas of Bamiyan. However, it is always impressive to see the degree to which its Islamic beliefs seem to produce uniformly harmful impacts on the populations under its cruel control. A report last week documented how there is a serious polio outbreak that is threatening global progress against the disease. The Taliban has denounced vaccinations as a Western plot and threatened anyone who receives one. It is a tragic irony since the disease has long been the scourge of the Middle East going back to ancient times, as this Egyptian tablet from the 18th Dynasty (1403–1365 BC) reflects. The ancient populations could only dream of a cure but, now that one is available, the Taliban again seeks to force its areas back into the dark ages.


Health officials have reported scores of crippled children as a result of the Taliban’s policy. The United States fueled the opposition to the program among extremists when it was disclosed that the CIA used a Pakistani vaccination team to gather intelligence about al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden — who was then killed by U.S. Special Forces. That success may prove to be a disaster for polio operations in reinforcing the medieval fears of groups like the Taliban.  It is treated as just another part of God’s plan for an ever-suffering humanity.

Pakistan has the highest rate of polio in the world following by Nigerian and Afghanistan. THere is also an outbreak in Syria to add to the misery of that population.

108 thoughts on “Faith-Based Polio: Taliban Undermines Global Efforts To Eradicate Polio After Banning Vaccinations”

  2. Gene & Oky1,
    I understand the objections. And also discussed the problems you mentioned previously about this year’s flu shot with oldest son. He thinks the risk of adverse effects of the current flu shot pales when compared with the risk of getting the strain of flu the epidemiologists believe will make the rounds this year. They have to do predictions in Jan-Feb as to what strain of flu will emerge months later. As you know, he is the medical director of a very busy emergency department, and if there are horrific adverse effects of anything, he will be the first to see it.

    He was adamant that I not risk fatal complications from the flu, especially at my age. I have already had pneumonia a half dozen times, and cannot chance it again.

    As for Thalidomide, that was a horrible example of how not to do something. As I recall, Thalidomide was approved as an anxiolytic. However, doctors started prescribing it for morning sickness when they discovered its antiemetic properties.

    I have a real problem with drug companies promoting their wares for off-label use. Granted, some off-label use has worked exceedingly well, but for companies to promote it is not responsible. There is an avenue for getting off-label use approved. Viagra is a perfect example of that. Viagra was tested in clinical trials as a cardiovascular drug, and turned out to be a medical failure. However, men in the clinical trials loved it for a “certain” side effect they discovered. Senator Bob Dole was one of the patients in the trial, and when the trials ended, he asked the company if he could have a supply of the samples. Pfizer very quickly presented the facts of the clinical trials to the FDA, which approved it for the previously unintended use.

  3. OS/Raff,

    Because everyone’s chemistry is a little different, I have to look at vaccine deployment a lot like deploying any component to a large complex system. A drug is rarely completely free from side effects so it comes back to an acceptable rate of error for the benefit gained taking the nature of the error into account. If a vaccine has a harmful side effect for 1 in 10,000 but works, then the benefit is worth the cost. But consider a case where the 1 in 10,000 is a spectacularly bad side effect, that can merit not using the vaccine. Or look at a drug like thalidomide. Its utility as an anaesthetic and to cure morning sickness paled in comparison to the cost in both lives and medical dollars spent on the birth defects it caused.

  4. OS,

    Normally I’ve found in problem resolution with main st type business matters I’d start with the responsible party and if needed escalate the issue up the chain of command.

    Presenting full discloser possible of the relevant facts & law.

    I’m reminded of one small troubling case that ends up with the company’s lawyer.

    After wasting a bunch of my time I finally get the issues up the chain of command and in about 2 minutes of me explaining to him the facts & the law he agreed they need to fix the issues & the issues were fixed.

    The vaccine issues isn’t a damn bit different other then we are dealing with a gen pop that’s been brainwashed with BS about Vax’s, big Fed Gov’t, & Wallst Corporations.

    Walgreens doesn’t give a sheeet about whether or not their flu shots work, those type outfits get govt welfare check for $15-$30 a shot and if the client gets sick they get to sell them more dope the doc prescribed.

    Now pardon me for rewording your comments:

    There is evidence because of Govt & Corporate Corruption in the Vaccine Programs and Secrecy surrounding the so called Vaccine Courts there is a massively growing anti-vaccine movement. In turn, this has, in some cases, resulted in major disruptions in
    vaccine programs, with resultant needless morbidity and mortality.

    If only there was a way to remove the corruption and allow vaccine victims thier day in a Real court of law maybe then we all could have a Real and safe vaccine program.

    Professor Turley reminds us all at the top of the page , we adhere to a strict civility rule, and I’ve noticed you do and I try as well.

    The reason I bring that issue up is because if my words fail to bring about redress of those people’s grievances all they are left with is ball bats and violence.

    I’ve been addressing this issue for at least 10-15 years if not longer. I’ve got a crowd behind me now.

    Too many people have already been needlessly injured and it’s way past time for the reasonable lawyers and lawyers makers to take the 2 minutes and fix the phk’in issues.

  5. raff,
    Yes, I know. First hand. I was five at the time, and my legs and knees still give me trouble. Jim Foreman is mentioned several times in my piece on Sabrina Jackintell. Jim’s wife has post-polio syndrome too. She lost motor control of her hands to the point where she could no longer write several years ago, and is now confined to a wheelchair. Ask her about people advocating kids not getting vaccinated and your ears will burn for a week.

  6. I am a popular guy tonight. Oky, nick already beat me to the correction.
    OS,
    We have seen what would happen without the polio vaccine.

  8. It has been written that:

    Many people fear flying more than driving.
    Many fear autism more than polio, measles, pertussis and flu.

    Number of deaths from flying in 2012 = 280 accidents with 432 dead.
    Number of deaths in auto accidents in 2011 = 32,367
    Number of deaths from vaccines in 2012 = 0

    What would happen if we stopped giving vaccines against preventable illnesses?

    http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm

  9. Vaccines and the ability to prevent morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases have been one of the greatest public health success stories. On a global level, it is one of the few cost-effective medical measures that result in universal benefit. Despite this, there is evidence of a growing anti-vaccine movement. In turn, this has, in some cases, resulted in major disruptions in
    vaccine programs, with resultant needless morbidity and mortality.

    http://www.morrisonlucas.com/GL/vaccines/Vaccine_19_2440_anti_vaccine_movement.pdf

  10. OKY, I was the person calling those reports linking vaccines to autism bogus, not raff. And, this is obviously a very emotional issue for you, which I respect. We’ll merely have to disagree.

  14. BTW:

    rafflaw

    Nice piece you did on Chevron.

    I have stuff I’d like to add about how evil they are but I’m limited by time as the corruption is just so bad everywhere now.

    Greg Palast had some info on them.

    He was also on infowars today & has comments on JPM 13 billion fine/slap on the wrist for destroying Trillions of the US’s economy through derivatives Fraud.

  15. **and the reports alleging vaccinations and autism have been shown to be bogus. **

    ugh, raf, lol, those reports show it was bogus were shown to be bogus. LOL

    Bought n paid for experts are widely known to have been bought n paid for results.

  16. ** rafflaw 1, October 21, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    As several have already suggested, I consider it child abuse for any parent to not get vaccinated for polio and any other major disease. My brother had…. **

    rafflaw, I also have brothers, sisters, family, friends & thousands of tragic stories to go with many of them.

    I have no doubt about you’re guy’s sincerity on this vaccine issue & many other issues.

    I know most of you are well meaning.

    I just wish more would honestly research these issues instead of just relying on the propaganda BS put out by groups with a vested interest in the outcome, like the vax makers, etc…..

    Here’s a small piece people can start with & I’ll be glad to be proven wrong.

    The old USA rate of mentally retardation/autism pre mass vaccination program was 1/25000, now that number is reported at about 1/50 post mass vaccination program.

    I think I seen there are 80 million people under 18.

    1/25000 = 3200 retarded/autistic

    1/50 = 1.6 million retarded/autistic

    And more everyday as more kids are shot up with vax’s

    Now it doesn’t end there, not by a long shot!!!

    Those numbers above do not show how many people went from A students to B students, C’s to D’s, etc., directly because of the Vax programs causing brain damage.

    We have no idea of the number of Cancers, AIDS & other horrible diseases that “have been spread” & continue to be spread by these vax programs.

    But it is a publicly admitted fact that the vax’s have spread Cancers, AIDS, etc….

    Further, when we are born we acquire immunities from our mothers & more through her breast milk.

    Vaccines destroy much of those immunities & add in our system viruses/pieces of viruses.

    So, many don’t become sick right away…. years, decades go by, someone becomes seriously ill.

    That person’s immunity drops, at that point all of those contained viruses in the blood, picked up from past vaccines or anywhere, then can become an active threat to that seriously ill person.

    As I posted above, I made the word of the day on this topic Transparency.

    These vax programs have to have the corruption removed from them as many of us have Zero confidence in them or the current people administrating them.

    Needles full of vaccines are harming more people the drug dealers with guns many times over…. I’ll just say many see vax’s the same as having a gun pulled on them, except it’s worst.

    I don’t know if I came across clearly, but that’s why I always suggest people go research the Nuremberg trails & those that were legally hung for what they thought they were legally doing by spreading biological agents among the gen pop.

    Now you know, what are you going to be thinking if I show up as your judge or on your jury to determine your guilt at your trial for spreading toxic vaccines?

    I can say I’d give you a fair hearing of the facts & law.

  17. raff, We are old enough to remember polio and those polio summers. When I was 5 or 6 when all us kids[4] had to stay in the house because a couple kids in our town got polio. That’s the problem, it’s parents w/ no frame of reference, and the reports alleging vaccinations and autism have been shown to be bogus.

  18. As several have already suggested, I consider it child abuse for any parent to not get vaccinated for polio and any other major disease. My brother had polio when he was young and I have a cousin who is still dependent on braces from it. Without the polio vaccines, millions more would be suffering from it today.

  19. You’re quite terse, Juliet. I like terse, but that leaves me trying to communicate w/ that person carrying the load, having to read between the lines. And, since 80% of communication is nonverbal, this is a horrible venue to get a good understanding. I urge you to directly say what “projections” I made are incorrect. I want to know your thoughts. I don’t want to have to surmise. But, if your thoughts and feelings are unexpressed, it’s my only option. I think you’re a person who knows yourself, an introvert like myself. Maybe I’m flat ass wrong. I absolutely respect your right to reveal what you want about yourself. But, on the specific comments I made here, what did I project incorrectly. You seem a bit chippy.

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