Texas floods and a new form of anti-vaxx
Two new episodes, slightly timely.
Usually our episodes are not timely, and these two episodes aren't timely as well unless you count a one month delay timely.
The Texas flood once again highlights the Gilbert White quote "Floods are acts of god, but flood losses are largely acts of man." The flood deaths simply did not have to happen, which both Cass and I made clear during the beginning of the episode. I hope during such events we recognize the absolutely absurd fact that the vast majority of search and rescue efforts are operated by volunteers. These brave people are not compensated (at least not monetarily), and that should unsettle you a bit. Search and rescue is a public good, and should be supported as such.
Public Health in Retrograde returns with an redux on a topic we covered already (vaccination) but this time with a hyper-specific fearmongering on the actual mechanism. This episode was timely by coincidence:
Helen Branswell
I am not exaggerating that these pseudoscience cranks are committing mass murder with extra steps. We might not see the effect of this right away, but this delay in science and medicine means several thousand people will potentially die an avoidable death had the pace of scientific research not been sabotaged. Support science, call your representatives, sign petitions, whatever you can to keep the fight going. Your life may depend on it decades later.
More regular episodes, as well as Public Health in Retrograde and Public Health Explained episodes lined up for the month of August.
Stay tuned.
MJ
