Diseases like Smallpox and Polio now affect far fewer people because of widespread vaccination.

廣泛接種疫苗 讓天花.小兒麻痹等病不再氾濫

Vaccines contain inactive viruses or bacteria that stimulate your body's B and T immune

疫苗含有非活性病毒或細菌 能刺激B與T免疫細胞

cells to produce antibodies, which then fight the disease.

產生抗體 對抗疾病

When enough people get immunized, vaccines produce "herd immunity": when someone is sick,

若接種的人夠多 便形成“族群免疫力” 有人生病時

the disease is contained by those who've had the vaccine, preventing it from spreading

有免疫力的人便能圍堵疾病 防止其擴散

further and getting to those who are most vulnerable.

避免傳染給抵抗力最低的人

But if only a few people are vaccinated, the disease spreads easily through the population

但若接種疫苗的人過少 疾病便很容易傳染

and outbreaks can occur.

甚至爆發大流行

In 1998, a paper in a major medical journal proposed a link between autism and the vaccination

1998年 一份知名醫學期刊的報告指出 MMR疫苗與自閉症有關

for measles, mumps, and rubella.  The popular press (and some celebrities) fueled anxiety

當時媒體與名人大肆炒作 引發民眾恐慌

about vaccinations based on this report.

引用的便是這份報告

Some vaccinations can have side effects, like soreness and fever.

某些疫苗的確帶有副作用 像是疼痛.發燒等

But Autism is a complex neurobehavioral disorder that occurs with a spectrum of symptoms.  A

但自閉症是複雜的腦神經發育障礙 症狀輕重不一

rise in prevalence may have more to do with changing diagnostic standards than other factors.

盛行率之所以增加 與診斷標準改變或許更有關

In fact, over a dozen studies have failed to find any connection between autism and

事實上 多達10幾份的研究仍無法證實兩者相關

vaccines and that original paper was retracted amid allegations of fraud and conflicts of

當初的原始報告 更因涉嫌詐欺與利益衝突遭到撤回

interest.

Yet the actions of celebrities and the media can have a lasting effect: more than half

但名人與媒體產生的影響相當深遠

of Americans still suspect there's a link between vaccines and autism.  Call it a case

至今超過一半的美國人 仍相信疫苗與自閉症有關

of "herd mentality."

也就是“從眾心理”

The consequences can be serious: in Ireland, vaccinations dropped about 30%, resulting

後果相當嚴重 愛爾蘭疫苗接種率少了近3成

in 1500 new cases of Measles and Mumps, including 3 deaths.

麻疹與腮腺炎新增1500起案例 其中3人死亡

And in the U.S., states with lowered vaccination rates are currently experiencing outbreaks

在美國 疫苗接種率較低的幾州

of measles and epidemic levels of whooping cough.

目前麻疹與百日咳正爆發大流行

So don't be immune to good advice: better a sore bottom, than a deadly bottom line.

所以別不聽話 屁股挨針 健康一生