One Unsung Success of Science

This week, our benevolent Seed Overlords ask, "What are some unsung successes that have occurred as a result of using science to guide policy?" Well, I thunked, and thunked, and thunked. Then my head began to hurt. Then I thought of one unsung success.

Vaccination.

Think about it. Typically, vaccination policy is decided by experts, and politicians usually don't meddle in it. There are problems with our vaccination policy--we don't vaccinate enough people, and we vaccinate the wrong groups (most experts claim that the most effective strategy would be to vaccinate those under 18, since they are the 'disease vectors', not the target populations like the elderly).

Nonetheless, our vaccination policies are pretty good. We've even developed vaccines for 'non-epidemic' diseases like streptococcal pneumonia which save thousands of lives every year. So I'll claim vaccination as a slightly qualified, and very unsung success.

More like this

There's no vaccine for the influenza subtype, H5N1, of most concern as the agent of the next pandemic but evidence exists that there is some cross-reactivity with existing seasonal vaccines (it's not clear how much if any, but it might not take much) or that previous vaccination with seasonal vac
There's been a bit of bad news on the vaccination front:
The CDC has declared this week to be National Influenza Vaccination Week, and is working to raise awareness about the seriousness of influenza and the importance of vaccination.

You raise a good point about it being an unsung success. I seem to recall hearing something about smallpox being stamped out. There should have been dancing in the streets, but most people don't really seem to care.

By CaptainMike (not verified) on 30 Jun 2006 #permalink