What Diseases with Vaccines Have in Common
Hey everybody,
Hope you all had a Happy Fourth of July (or at least a pleasant day of work if you’re somewhere across the pond).
For today’s post, I want to start with a question: What do polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A and B, and HPV all have in common?
They all belong to a very specific category of illnesses that have vaccines, but no cures.
Polio is one disease in particular that most people believe we have wiped out. But while not prevalent in the US, polio still exists in many other countries. In fact, all of the diseases listed are still widespread, despite having vaccines in place for many, many years.
Why do I bring this up? Because one of the big beliefs here at the JDCA is that funding PREVENTION methods will not lead to the creation of a CURE. In fact, this is probably one of our most divisive beliefs, but history has proven time and time again that one will not lead to the other.
The a big roadblock to finding a Practical Cure is that more and more funding is being diverted towards preventative measures with the belief that if we find a way to stop T1 from occurring, we’ll be able to eliminate in those already sick with this disease. Unfortunately, this will not produce the result we all desire. Funding preventative measures only helps to splinter the already limited amount of money going to a cure. Couple this belief with a lack of corporate governance explaining where your money is going (a discussion that we will adding to this week), and you have little way of knowing if your donation will ever truly go to a project that will help move us towards a Practical Cure.
Earlier in the year we made a short two-minute video explaining this problem, as well as an entire report on the subject, both of which are posted below for you to take a look at. Results matter, and history has taught us that following this avenue will not lead us to the Practical Cure that we all desire.
For a last note, consider this: When Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine, funding to NFIP (now known as THE MARCH OF DIMES) decreased 65 percent over the next 10 years. Because of this, the charity was forced to stop helping to rehabilitate those already afflicted with polio. While the vaccine helped many subsequent generations, to this day if you get polio, there is absolutely no cure.
–Nick Masercola
Report: http://www.thejdca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Prevention-Does-Not-Lead-To-a-Cure.pdf
As much as I would like to see (thinking selfishly) a cure for people like myself who currently have Type 1 diabetes, I do believe a vaccine or some sort of prevention would be a HUGE step forward. I’ve already come to terms and acceptance with what I’ve got. My biggest fear is not the complications that it might ultimately force upon me (we all know them, no need to list), but my fear is passing it along to one or both of my two kids. If there was a way to be sure that wouldn’t happen, it would surely make me feel better – a LOT better. If you ask a group of parents if they would risk their own lives or well-being in order to save their young kids – whether in the context of disease, fire, or an attacking grizzly bear, I bet they’d all say yes.
There are PWDs who don’t have children for that very reason – fear of passing it along. Parenthood is such a blessed part of life, that I’d hate to see diabetes take that away from anybody.
I’d love to rid myself of this. But to know that I’m among the last generation to have it would be the next best thing.