You simply state that smallpox/tetanus/flu vaccines work, but that claim is far from proven. For example, for the flu vaccines, there's no evidence that they prevent hospitalization or death from flu (according to a massive Cochrane meta-analysis). So, what does it mean to say that they "work"? That they reduce mild or moderate cold s…
You simply state that smallpox/tetanus/flu vaccines work, but that claim is far from proven. For example, for the flu vaccines, there's no evidence that they prevent hospitalization or death from flu (according to a massive Cochrane meta-analysis). So, what does it mean to say that they "work"? That they reduce mild or moderate cold symptoms? But even if they do, it's not clear that reducing these symptoms is useful. Maybe the body knows what it's doing and is trying to heal, and those symptoms are a necessary part? And maybe the flu vaccines are just damaging that part of the immune system responsible for doing this healing? And what are the effects on all-cause mortality ("nonspecific effects" in the lingo of vaccine studies)? I'm not claiming to know the answers to all these questions. I'm just pointing out that the "vaccines are effective" arguments are based on a large number of questionable assumptions that are never cashed out.
You simply state that smallpox/tetanus/flu vaccines work, but that claim is far from proven. For example, for the flu vaccines, there's no evidence that they prevent hospitalization or death from flu (according to a massive Cochrane meta-analysis). So, what does it mean to say that they "work"? That they reduce mild or moderate cold symptoms? But even if they do, it's not clear that reducing these symptoms is useful. Maybe the body knows what it's doing and is trying to heal, and those symptoms are a necessary part? And maybe the flu vaccines are just damaging that part of the immune system responsible for doing this healing? And what are the effects on all-cause mortality ("nonspecific effects" in the lingo of vaccine studies)? I'm not claiming to know the answers to all these questions. I'm just pointing out that the "vaccines are effective" arguments are based on a large number of questionable assumptions that are never cashed out.