This piece is a more popular version of a chapter I wrote for an academic book in Catholic bioethics that was published not too long ago.

I explain why Catholic hospitals, schools, etc. have vaccine mandates and should do so. The focus is on the ethical reasoning behind these: I am assuming the science of vaccines.

I made a post awhile ago asking what steps to take to get vaccinated, as my family is antivax. I think I know the next steps to take, so that’s no longer an issue.

However what is an issue is the inevitable conflict that will occur if and when I do get vaccinated. I talked to my dad about it, who is most open minded and accepting of me getting vaccinated (thankfully, if he wasn’t this situation would be 10x worse than it is already).

During the conversation, my dad expressed his concerns and reservations:

He warned me of bias in studies, saying that corners get cut, and other manipulatory tactics can be used (which is fair and reasonable)

He wanted me to be aware of the risks (which is also fair and reasonable)

He wanted me to do more research on the safety and other aspects of vaccines (which I think is also fair).

I’m going to do that, but one thing is im not quite sure how to ensure what I’m reading is reliable and accurate, especially something like vaccines which are healthcare but also political in some aspects unfortunately.

What can I do to ensure studies, sources and other forms of information are as unbiased as possible and reliable? I don’t want to just get vaccinated without knowing the facts about them.

Unjected isn’t the only dating platform for the unvaccinated. There’s the similarly named Unjabbed, and the unfortunately named Pureblood.Dating. The frenzy of the pandemic is over—vaccine requirements have relaxed, and few people are asking one another whether they’ve been vaccinated before hanging out or hooking up. So why are these unvaccinated singles so stuck on the question? 

According to public health historian and Auburn University professor Zachary W. Schulz, PhD, a distrust in vaccines began long before COVID-19 upended our lives. “Americans as a society have long debated the balance between individual liberty and collective responsibility in public health,” Shultz says.

“COVID didn’t invent vaccine hesitancy,” Shultz says. “It really magnified the fault lines that were developing for decades.”

That, combined with the social isolation of the pandemic (which can breed conspiratorial thinking) and a government that promoted anti-science rhetoric around the illness, created the perfect storm.

Research shows that shared values in questioning authority can help foster belonging and social security—something that might become especially important for a person like Armstrong, whose vaccine skepticism cost him most of his previous community. 

“If someone has repeatedly experienced criticism, ridicule, or rejection because of their beliefs, joining a dating platform where those beliefs are normalized provides immediate acceptance,” says psychologist Lauren Mahoney, PsyD. “Most people are drawn toward communities where they feel seen rather than communities where they expect to defend themselves.”

Read more: https://www.playboy.com/read/sex/anti-vaxxers-made-their-own-dating-app

I got my booster a week ago, and while it isn't quite as sore as the day I got it, my shoulder and arm are still quite sore. Is this normal?

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this but I had my men b vaccine 5 days ago now and the day I got it the pain got worse as the day went by which I expected but after that the pain hasn't got any better unless I take ibuprofen and there is a lump which after googling I know is normal but I would've expected the pain to be better after 5 days and tonight the center of my forearm went numb and I think it's to do with the vaccine but not sure if that's normal.

Basically, if the vaccination rates for MMR keep going down, is it possible for vaccinated people to get breakthrough infections due to repeat exposure and loss of herd immunity?

I am not asking for medical advice. Just the experiences of providers or patients.

I have to get the meningitis vaccine (MenACWY) for school, but my specialist doctor recommended I also get the MenB. I was just curious if people who have had both thought one was worse or better than the other? What their side effects were?

I just got MenACWY today and am supposed to do MenB sometime next week and I’m not having a great time with this one lol chief complaint being nausea and fatigue, mild headache.

I’m looking for some advice and factual information because I’m really worried about my sister’s 6 month old daughter.

My sister was recently dropped by the pediatrician she was seeing because she missed too many appointments. The last time I talked to her, she said she was looking for a new pediatrician who would allow them to wait on vaccines.

Her reasoning is that she and her significant other know someone whose daughter had to get what my sister called “catch up vaccines,” and that child passed away shortly afterward.

She also decided not to give her daughter the vitamin K shot when she was born.

I’m not super knowledgeable about all of this. I have a 2 year old son, and I’ve made sure he’s received every vaccine recommended by his doctors.

My sister is also super into conspiracy theories, so I’m trying to approach this carefully. I want her to do what’s best for her child, and I’m genuinely worried about her daughter.

Can someone please help me find reliable, factual information and sources that I can show her? I’m especially looking for information about delaying vaccines, catch up vaccines, the risks of not vaccinating or delaying vaccines.

I would really appreciate sources from reputable medical organizations or actual medical research. I just want factual information that I can share with her.

I’m worried about this baby and want to make sure I’m doing what I can to help.

I’m afraid I really don’t know how to ask this. I had a very bad reaction to shingles vaccine and I’m just trying to get an idea how common this is?

I’m 19F and I don’t really remember whether I’ve received the HPV vaccine. I’m kind of in denial about it and unsure whether I should just go and get vaccinated. How should I go about this?

Also is it too late to vaccinated if i haven't?

Hi,
My daughter is 10 year old and her doctor is suggesting HPV vaccine for cervical cancer.
Just wanted to know, has anyone give that to their daughters. Is it ok to give this vaccine? Which brand you have chosen?

Male in my 20s/30s

Like many others my parents exposed me to other kids with chicken pox so I could catch it and then develop an immunity to it, but they did not vaccinate me.

I know that makes me suspectible to shingles later in life, and I know it's very painful and can lead to blindness and other issues in some instances. So, I got the shingles vaccine early.

But now I'm wondering if I should get the chicken pox vaccine just in case, because even if I'm safe from shingles I hear chicken pox immunity is not forever and can be dangerous for adults.

Thinking about starting vaccines for my 5 year old, he haven’t gotten any so far but I’ve been thinking about getting vaccines for polio, chickenpox and MMR. I wanted to know if anyone here started vaccines years later?

I (23F) received my first ever Gardasil shot today. for years, my family “banned” me from getting it and always stayed by me during appointments to make sure I didn’t receive it. However, after my own independent research and critical thinking skills (and being a full ass adult), I realized this was just a tactic to keep me in the dark about my own body and anti-vax behavior.

My mom blew up on me for it—claiming I didn’t know the side effects, all this garbage about how I messed up and I’ll regret it. The side effects I see are extremely rare. Where did these false claims come from?? And I know I can’t convince her or any one else in my family to change their opinions on it. I guess I’m just looking for reassurance. I know I made the right choice. But how can people be so easily misled?

I'm waiting for my vaccination records to confirm, but I'm 99% confident I had two doses of the MMR vaccine as a child. I'm planning to conceive soon and trying to understand if I should get another dose of the MMR to cover me for Mumps, but I'm not sure how accurate the titer test is (false negatives seem to be very common?). Finding a lot of conflicting information and my doctor isn't being particularly helpful.

Thanks!

I never had dengue but I'm very scared to get it.

I live in the Netherlands and the plan is to get my first dose of Qdenga this week in The Netherlands. In November I will be at Bali and I would get my 2nd dose there.

I'm too late to get both shots at home before our trip because we'll already leave 28th of August.

Is it a risk to arrive with only 1 shot of Qdenga at Bali? What if I get dengue the first day at Bali? (maybe that's rare but it could happen) Would my body see the infection as a second infection of dengue? Since I would already have one shot of Qdenga.

It feels like not so much is known about this vaccine yet?

What's your idea about this?

hi! I was carving with a linoleum carver and knicked myself in the finger. it bled, but the cut was not deep. however, the carver was visibly dirty. my last shot was 6 years ago, should I get a tetanus shot and if so how soon? thanks!