‘The risk of death from a serious infectious disease without the vaccines is much higher than the risk of dying from the vaccines.’
THE world, humankind, is safer because we have vaccines against fatal infectious diseases. The Black Death, the plague in Europe from 1347 to 1351, killed between 25-50 million (about half of the population) because there were no vaccines. This is just like saying we are blessed and safer for having the most efficacious antibiotics today. Before antibiotics were discovered, people died even from the simplest infection.
Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin in 1928 while working at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. Before that, 50 percent of all post-birth deaths and burns were caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, and 80 percent of infectious wounds were caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Tuberculosis and pneumonia were very popular killers during the pre-antibiotic era. Indeed, like vaccines, antibiotics, especially today, with all the sophisticated versions, are lifesavers.
People around the world have accepted antibiotics as a blessing, in spite of the fact that occasionally a shot of penicillin could cause deaths from violent allergic reactions. Individuals could be super-sensitive to other drugs too.
Somehow, people look at vaccines differently. Vaccine hesitancy is dangerous and more common than we think. And this mindset has maimed and killed millions. Most of this comes from misinformation, disinformation, and fake news from social media.
The existential question should always be: Which is more dangerous, the infection or the vaccines? Which of the two is a greater threat to health and life? What are the statistics? How many percent of unvaccinated people died from infectious diseases like smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Ebola, HIV, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19, and how many died from the vaccines for those grave diseases? Why have governments around the world mandated preschool vaccinations for children since the 19th century? To save lives. A no-brainer!
For COVID-19, for instance, the risk of getting an adverse reaction from the vaccines, much less dying from them, is a fraction of one percent, while the risk of dying from COVID-19, especially during the first year of the pandemic, was as high as 25-30 percent for adults.
In dealing with our health and well-being, it is best to do it scientifically, since the advances in science, medicine, technology, engineering, various other fields, and now, artificial intelligence, have attained sophisticated heights by leaps and bounds.
As a cardiac surgeon, I often encountered patients with extreme fear of surgery, especially of open-heart procedures in general. To make them see the scientific reality of their situation, I always explain to them that when the finding is severe blockage of the left main coronary artery, or its equivalent lesion (2 arteries for the left ventricles are blocked), the risk of death within a year is at least 50 percent. One foot in the grave! This lesion is infamously called “the widow-maker,” a serious killer of men.
Then, I compared the statistics of a 50 percent risk of the disease to the risk of death from coronary bypass surgery today, which is 1-2 percent. That is a staggering difference of 48 to 49 percent safer to have surgery than not having it. Medical statistics usually make patients understand their situation more clearly, feel reassured, and make their decisions more rational and realistic.
We must apply the same scientific approach when making decisions about vaccines or other modes of treatment for our ailments. All these therapies we have today are heaven-sent blessings. Let us take full advantage of them. Not using them is a great waste and a grave threat to our life.
As of September 17, 2024, “the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) Omicron variants KP.2, KP 2.3, KP.3, and KP 3.1.1, as well as LB.1, have a high prevalence in the United States.”
The CDC recommends those six months and older to have the new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines. In the Philippines, the public is advised to have the new COVID-19 vaccines.
The take-away: The risk of death from a serious infectious disease without the vaccines is much higher than the risk of dying from the vaccines. Vaccines have saved billions of lives around the world the past two centuries.
Grilling and cancer
Grilling meats of any kind, even fish, especially under high heat, increases the cancer risk in people. Cooking at high temperatures makes the meats drip oil on the charcoal. When the oil hits the superhot charcoal, fumes result, and the smoke contains carcinogenic substances that “vaporizes” upwards to the meat. These harmful fumes are absorbed by the meats.
Charring meats under high heat creates heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), both of which change human DNA and cause cancer. Even frying over high heat also has the same carcinogenic effect. Marinating meats and fish (your choice: vinegar, light cooking olive oil, lemon juices, and spices) lowers the HCAs and PAHs but does not totally prevent the risk. Do not eat the charred, blackened, portion of meats.
Besides colorectal cancers and stomach cancers, using high heat for grilling and frying also causes other diseases. Using gas, instead of charcoal, using lower temperatures, and shortening the cooking time, appear to lessen the risk for cancers, but do not totally eliminate the risk. Boiling is not associated with this phenomenon.
Even without grilling, frying, or cooking, processed meats, like deli meat, are likewise associated with stomach and colorectal cancers, among other harmful effects on our bodies. Not only is red meat associated with cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but processed meats are carcinogenic. Grilling vegetables and fruits does not pose the same problem.
Indoor grilling also contaminates the entire home with the fumes of PAHs and HCAs, so it is not recommended.
Let’s use science and wisdom to protect our health, maximize our potential longevity, and make the world a better place for all too.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a cardiac surgeon emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, health advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995 presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later presidential candidate Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, pugilist Muhammad Ali, TV talk show host David Letterman, Astronaut Gus Grissom, educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
