破解反疫苗迷思：英語精讀講義

The number of people against vaccinating themselves and their children has surged in recent years 文法

近年來，反對自己和孩子接種疫苗的人數大幅增加，

and it can be frustrating listening to their claims. 文法

而聽著他們的各種說法，實在令人挫折。

So we wanted to debunk and deconstruct the most common arguments one by one 講解

所以，我們想逐一駁斥並拆解最常見的論點，

to help you prepare and present the facts

幫助你做好準備、提出事實，

in your next encounter with an anti-vaxxer. 用詞

以應對下一次碰上的反疫苗人士。

Why I do not vaccinate my kids?

我為什麼不讓孩子接種疫苗？

Blog entry 189.

部落格文章第 189 篇。

Vaccines contain MSG, antifreeze, phenol, formaldehyde,

疫苗含有味精、防凍劑、苯酚、甲醛，

aluminum, lead, and mercury.

鋁、鉛和汞。

It's true, vaccines contain chemicals.

沒錯，疫苗含有化學物質。

Vaccines have contained mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde,

疫苗中確實曾含有汞、鋁和甲醛，

ingredients that can be toxic.

這些成分可能具有毒性。

What else can be toxic?

還有什麼也可能有毒？

Water, given a large enough dose, 文法

水，只要攝取的劑量夠大，

and same goes for apples, coffee, 片語搭配

蘋果和咖啡也是一樣，

or too much of anything, to be honest.

老實說，任何東西過量都可能有毒。

The dose makes the poison, 慣用語

劑量決定毒性，

and the doses of the chemicals in vaccines are negligible.

而疫苗中這些化學物質的劑量微乎其微。

For example, vaccines that include aluminum, which is included to make the vaccine more effective,

例如，有些疫苗為了提高效力而加入鋁，

contain about 0.125 mg per dose,

每一劑約含 0.125 毫克，

but the average person actually takes in an estimated 30 to 50 mg every day 片語動詞

但據估計，一般人每天其實會攝取 30 到 50 毫克，

through food and drink.

全都來自食物和飲料。

That's way more than one vaccination on a daily basis. 用詞

換句話說，你每天攝取的鋁，遠超過一劑疫苗中的含量。

And while some people warn about the presence of mercury-containing compounds like thimerosal,

此外，有些人警告疫苗中含有硫柳汞這類含汞化合物，

a vaccine preservative to prevent bacterial growth,

它是用來防止細菌滋生的疫苗防腐劑，

it's actually been removed from almost all childhood vaccines since 2001. 文法

但事實上，自 2001 年起，它已從幾乎所有兒童疫苗中移除。

This was done to ease public concern, 片語搭配

這麼做是為了平息大眾疑慮，

even though no literature suggests it's harmful at doses present in vaccines. 表達脈絡

儘管沒有任何文獻顯示，疫苗中的這種劑量會造成傷害。

As a granola parent, 用詞

身為崇尚天然的家長，

my kids get everything natural.

我什麼都給孩子最天然的。

Quinoa crackers over Ritz any day. 語氣意圖

無論何時，我都選藜麥餅乾，不選 Ritz 餅乾。

Because can't we just all agree that the natural route is better? 講解

因為大家難道不能同意，走天然路線就是比較好嗎？

So just let your child's immune system develop naturally

所以，就讓孩子的免疫系統自然發展，

and save them a lifetime of pain.

也讓他們一輩子免受痛苦。

Vaccines introduce a weakened form of the germ to your body

疫苗會將弱化的病原體送入體內，

so that the immune system can learn to recognize it. 文法

讓免疫系統學會辨認它。

Your body then builds its defenses, 慣用語

接著，你的身體會建立防禦能力，

so it's prepared to fight off a real attack later. 片語動詞

為日後抵抗真正的病原體侵襲做好準備。

And it's true, naturally,

而且確實，在自然情況下，

newborn babies are immune to several diseases

新生兒對幾種疾病具有免疫力，

because of the antibodies they receive from their mother's breast milk

因為他們會從母乳中獲得母親的抗體，

and the thousands of germs we're exposed to from the moment we're born, 片語搭配

也因為我們從出生那一刻起，就會接觸成千上萬種病菌，

but vaccines cover the diseases you don't have immunity against. 文法

但疫苗能防範那些你尚未具有免疫力的疾病。

It's why we don't vaccinate for every single disease possible,

這正是我們不會針對每一種可能的疾病都施打疫苗的原因，

just those which are most dangerous.

而只針對最危險的疾病。

And children are given shots at a young age

孩子會在年幼時接種疫苗，

because this is when they're at the highest risk of getting sick or dying. 片語搭配

因為這時是他們染病或死亡風險最高的階段。

But what about allergies?

可是，過敏怎麼說？

My second cousin Lisa got her kids vaccinated

我的遠房表親 Lisa 讓她的孩子接種疫苗，

and now they have a peanut allergy.

結果他們現在都對花生過敏。

I don't want my baby to get allergies.

我不想讓我的寶寶過敏。

In 1997,

1997 年，

people began to question whether there was a connection between vaccines and allergies. 文法

人們開始質疑疫苗與過敏之間是否有關聯。

And then a study of 2100 participants ages 5 to 6

後來一項針對 2,100 名 5 到 6 歲受試者的研究

found that vaccines actually have the opposite effect

發現，疫苗的效果其實正好相反，

and instead have a protective effect against allergies. 片語搭配

反而有助於預防過敏。

I mean,

我是說，

how bad are the diseases that these vaccines are preventing anyways? 用詞

這些疫苗所預防的疾病，到底能有多嚴重？

My little sport here

看看我家這個小壯丁，

stuffed like a packed sausage. 慣用語

壯得像條塞得滿滿的香腸。

Got my genes,

他遺傳了我的基因，

so he's built to last. 慣用語

所以身體肯定硬朗得很。

If he got the measles,

就算他得了麻疹，

what's the worst that could happen? 語氣意圖

最糟又能怎樣？

Vaccines have done such a good job preventing so many diseases 文法

疫苗非常有效地預防了這麼多疾病，

that many generations have never seen them.

以至於好幾個世代的人從未見過它們。

But here's what these diseases looked like without vaccines. 表達脈絡

但在沒有疫苗的年代，這些疾病可是這副光景。

In 1967,

1967 年，

smallpox was responsible for millions of deaths.

天花奪走數百萬條人命。

By 1980,

到了 1980 年，

it was completely eradicated due to an intensive vaccine campaign. 用詞

透過密集的疫苗接種行動，天花已被徹底根除。

Before polio vaccine was available,

在小兒麻痺疫苗問世前，

13,000 to 20,000 cases of paralytic polio

每年都有 13,000 至 20,000 起麻痺型小兒麻痺症病例

were reported each year in the United States.

在美國被通報。

This meant thousands of children had to use braces, crutches, wheelchairs,

這代表數千名兒童得靠腿部支架、拐杖、輪椅，

and ventilators to breathe.

甚至靠呼吸器才能呼吸。

From 1964 to 65,

1964 到 1965 年間，

before the rubella vaccine,

在德國麻疹疫苗問世前，

there were 2100 neonatal deaths and 11,250 miscarriages.

有 2,100 名新生兒死亡，另發生 11,250 起流產。

And of the 20,000 born with rubella,

而在 20,000 名罹患先天性德國麻疹的嬰兒中，

more than half ended up deaf, 片語動詞

超過一半失聰，

over 3,000 blind,

逾 3,000 人失明，

and 1800 with mental delays.

還有 1,800 人出現心智發展遲緩。

As for measles,

至於麻疹，

before immunization was available,

在疫苗可供接種以前，

nearly everyone in the US got measles

幾乎每個美國人都得過麻疹，

because it's extremely contagious.

因為它的傳染力極強。

The World Health Organization estimates that regular vaccination

世界衛生組織估計，例行疫苗接種

has prevented 20.4 million deaths from measles worldwide

已讓全球 2,040 萬人免於死於麻疹，

from 2000 to 2016.

統計期間為 2000 至 2016 年。

Okay,

好吧，

but you still haven't covered autism. 語氣意圖

但你還是沒談到自閉症。

Much of the anti-vaccination movement

反疫苗運動在很大程度上

is linked to one paper published in the late 1990s, 片語搭配

與 1990 年代末期發表的一篇論文有關，

which claimed vaccines caused autism.

那篇論文聲稱疫苗會導致自閉症。

It suggested a link between the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine

它宣稱麻疹、腮腺炎與德國麻疹混合疫苗

causing malabsorption of nutrients in the gut,

會造成腸道營養吸收不良，

thereby leading to increased cases of autism in children. 表達脈絡

進而導致兒童自閉症案例增加。

The study was later proven to be fraudulent 用詞

後來證實這項研究是造假的，

and debunked by 25 international research papers

也被 25 篇國際研究論文駁斥，

involving large population studies.

其中包括多項大規模族群研究。

Furthermore,

此外，

10 of the 13 authors of this original paper

原論文的 13 位作者中，有 10 位

have now refuted and retracted their original statements 用詞

如今已否認並撤回他們原本

on this suggested link.

對這項假定關聯所發表的說法。

And while it's understandable that parents want to protect their kids, 文法

父母想保護孩子，這種心情可以理解，

the claim is not founded in any evidence.

但這項說法毫無證據支持。

There needs to be a balance with the government.

政府的介入也得有個分寸。

Parents should have a measure of choice 用詞

父母應該有一定的選擇權，

about whether or not they should vaccinate their kids.

決定是否讓孩子接種疫苗。

No one knows their kid better than you do. 文法

沒有人比你更了解自己的孩子。

So,

所以，

vaccinating your kid

幫孩子接種疫苗這件事

only affects you and your baby.

只會影響你和你的寶寶。

This is simply not the case. 表達脈絡

事實根本不是這樣。

Vaccines protect you

疫苗能保護你，

and perhaps more importantly, 表達脈絡

或許更重要的是，

it helps other people.

也能保護其他人。

If you're not sick,

如果你沒生病，

you can't spread the disease to those with weaker immune systems,

就不會把疾病傳給免疫系統較弱的人，

particularly the very young or elderly,

尤其是幼兒和年長者，

and those who may have medical conditions

以及可能因健康狀況

in which they can't be vaccinated.

而無法接種疫苗的人。

For example,

例如，

those undergoing chemotherapy.

正在接受化療的人。

The more people that are vaccinated, 文法

接種疫苗的人越多，

the less available real estate for the germs, 慣用語

病菌能占據的地盤就越少，

meaning its spreading ability is squashed.

也就是說，它的傳播能力會受到壓制。

This principle is called herd immunity. 文化背景

這項原則稱為群體免疫。

For the vulnerable in our society, 用詞

對社會中較脆弱的人而言，

herd immunity is their best protection.

群體免疫是他們最好的保障。

The NSA,

美國國家安全局（NSA），

the CIA,

美國中央情報局（CIA），

the FBI,

美國聯邦調查局（FBI），

big corporations,

大企業，

big pharma. 用詞

製藥巨頭。

The amount of drugs they've taken off the market,

看看他們從市場撤下了多少藥物，

trusting those suits, 慣用語

要是相信那些西裝革履的傢伙，

is practically a death sentence. 慣用語

幾乎就等於給自己判死刑。

Pharmaceutical companies do make money from selling vaccines. 文法

製藥公司確實會靠販售疫苗賺錢。

One estimate puts the vaccine market now at $24 billion, 表達脈絡

據估計，目前疫苗市場的規模達 240 億美元，

which is huge.

這的確非常龐大。

But if you want to talk money, 語氣意圖

但如果你想談錢，

a study found that in the US between 1994 and 2013,

一項研究發現，美國在 1994 到 2013 年間，

vaccine created a net savings of $295 billion in direct costs 用詞

因疫苗接種而淨省下 2,950 億美元的直接成本，

and 1.38 trillion in societal costs.

以及 1.38 兆美元的社會成本。

It's true,

沒錯，

drugs have been pulled from the market 片語動詞

確實有藥物被撤出市場，

after harmful side effects came to light. 慣用語

因為後來發現了有害的副作用。

However,

然而，

vaccines are among the most highly regulated substances we can put into our bodies, 文法

疫苗是所有會進入人體的物質中，受到最嚴格管制的幾種之一，

in part because they're given to healthy people, 表達脈絡

部分原因在於，施打疫苗的對象是健康的人，

usually children,

通常是兒童，

as a preventative measure rather than a treatment. 片語搭配

而且目的在預防，不是治療。

They go through multiple phases of testing 片語動詞

疫苗必須通過多個階段的測試，

to see if they're safe, 表達脈絡

檢驗是否安全，

to find the correct dose,

找出適當劑量，

and to see if protection against the disease actually works.

並確認是否真的能預防該疾病。

In Canada and the US,

在加拿大和美國，

it can take 10 to 25 years of testing 文法

一款疫苗可能要經過 10 到 25 年的測試，

before a vaccine is approved.

才會獲准上市。

And once on the market, 文法

而一旦上市，

there's continuous monitoring of its effects.

其影響仍會持續受到監測。

The likelihood of a severe reaction to the MMR vaccine

接種 MMR 疫苗後出現嚴重不良反應的機率

is approximately one in one million, 片語搭配

約為百萬分之一，

which is around 10 times less likely 文法

這個機率大約還要低上 10 倍，

than being killed by a lightning strike.

比起遭雷擊身亡來說。

Thank you so much to Bill and Melinda Gates

非常感謝 Bill 與 Melinda Gates

for sponsoring today's episode.

贊助今天這一集。

This video is meant to highlight the importance of vaccines, 片語搭配

這支影片是為了強調疫苗的重要性，

which save millions of lives every year.

疫苗每年都會拯救數百萬條生命。

Vaccines are a great example

疫苗正是一個很好的例子，

of how modern medicine and technology

顯示現代醫學和科技

have decreased disease worldwide.

如何降低全球的疾病發生率。

It's part of the reason 片語搭配

這也是

why the number of children who die every year

每年死亡的兒童人數

has been cut by half 文法

已經減半，

and continues to go down.

而且仍持續下降的部分原因。

Though sometimes it's hard to feel like it, 表達脈絡

雖然有時很難這麼覺得，

there are many reasons

但我們有許多理由

why we should be optimistic about our future.

可以對未來保持樂觀。

This becomes pretty clear

要看清這一點並不難，

when you focus on the brilliant scientists,

只要把目光放在傑出的科學家、

dedicated individuals,

全心投入的人們，

and new ideas

以及各種新點子上，

that are solving some of the world's toughest issues.

看看這些力量如何解決世界上一些最棘手的問題。

Head to gatesletter.com

前往 gatesletter.com，

to learn in the annual letter

從年度公開信中了解

from Bill and Melinda Gates

Bill 與 Melinda Gates

why they're so optimistic about the future.

為什麼對未來如此樂觀。

Thanks for watching,

感謝收看，

and if you haven't already, 文法

如果你還沒打，

go out and get your flu shot. 片語搭配

就快去接種流感疫苗吧。

And parents,

還有，各位家長，

please just vaccinate your kids. 語氣意圖

拜託一定要讓孩子接種疫苗。

Thanks a lot,

非常感謝，

okay?

好嗎？

We will see you next week.

我們下週見。

Bye.

掰掰。