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Sunny Didier's avatar

Well done! Thank you for a fascinating read. I am also a kid of the 60s and most people were grateful to line up for their vaccinations back then. I contracted polio at age 3 (we lived in Alaska at the time before it was even a state, so everything got there last, including vaccines. My siblings were all vaccinated and never got polio.)

I second your advice about digging deeper if you really want to make an informed decision. I have well-meaning friends who tell me about a medical choice they’ve made (which they want me to also make) and when I ask the source of their information it’s either another friend or something they read in the “Science” or “Health” section of a newspaper. Hah! (That’s usually my response out loud to them too.)

Personally, I’m all for taking an interest in one’s health, and your faith in Vitamin C may or may not be grounded in science, but the placebo effect is a real thing. (This is my stock answer when people question MY little supplement idiosyncrasies.)

Vaccines, unfortunately, are a public health matter as well as a personal health matter, since too many unvaccinated people make it more difficult for the public to stave off illnesses of one kind or another from which a vaccine offers protection. But the issue has become such a political hot potato reasoned discussions are the only sort I give any time and thought to. When people won’t provide links and sources but just say “vaccines good” or “vaccines bad” basically “because I say so” that conversation is a waste of time, in my opinion.

Thank you for all the links and for your cogent and thorough (and reasoned!) article, Steve. I appreciate all your efforts to keep us informed AND enjoying delicious, healthy meats.

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NorthPastureView's avatar

Wow! Thank you very much, Sunny!

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Joel Spry's avatar

An interesting, informative, read. Clearly, a great deal of time and consideration has been given to the topic. Thank you for taking on this unnecessarily contentious topic and providing a reasonable explanation.

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NorthPastureView's avatar

You bet, Joel. Thanks!

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Ellen  Clifford's avatar

Thank you for all of the research you put into this article. Very interesting! I learned a lot about vaccines and about pigs. Keep up the good work.

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NorthPastureView's avatar

Thanks a lot, Ellen!

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Howard Manos's avatar

Quite the read. Well done Steve. I peraonally love the detail and appreciate the hard work that went into this article.

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NorthPastureView's avatar

Thanks Howie!

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