equipocesca » Preventive activities

Vaccines are not seat belts, and motor vehicles are not human beings

Pedro Gérvas — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:53:09 +0000

The debate on the coercive vaccination is raised many times with the example of the acceptance of the implementation of the mandatory use of seat belts in motor vehicles. It is a very popular approach usually led by those who lack scientific training in vaccines. Seat belts are no vaccines, and motor vehicles are not human beings so the ethical foundation of coercive seat belts laws does not apply to coercive vaccination policies. Mandatory vaccination, which already exists in some countries, is being promoted when the outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases are presented as the responsibility of the “anti-vaccines”. But “anti-vax” are residuals in the world.

Vaccines are not seat belts, and motor vehicles are not human beings. Gérvas J, Pérez-Fernández M. Madrid, Spain. April 2024. Download article here.

Mandating covid19 vaccines? Nonsense proposals

Pedro Gérvas — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:11:46 +0000

Mandatory vaccination against covid19 of health care workers is proposed because there are vaccines that might reduce the transmission of the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and might protect both the health workforce and patients.

The question that arises is scientific and ethical because of the fact that we do not yet know whether the vaccine will prevent transmission (and thus produce herd immunity).

Will the vaccine protect only those who get vaccinated?

The unknowns of how the vaccine covid19 affects transmission makes the possibility of achieving herd immunity through vaccination uncertain.

It lacks logic and scientific and ethical foundation to demand compulsory covid19 vaccination in general and in specific cases as health care workers in health centres/hospitals, nursing homes and other health/social care centres. The proposals for mandating covid19 vaccines are unethical.

Mandating covid19 vaccines? Nonsense proposals. Gérvas J. Madrid (Spain) February 2021. Download article here.

Influenza-flu vaccine and covid19. Fifteen questions

Pedro Gérvas — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:19:44 +0000

The flu vaccine is a failed vaccine, useless at best, that discredits vaccines in general. The situation created by the #COVID19 pandemic does not change the recommendation not to use it. 15 questions with answers and references.

Influenza-flu vaccine and covid19. Fifteen questions. Gérvas J. Madrid, October, 2020. Dowload article here.

Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health

Pedro Gérvas — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:58:05 +0000

This article discusses the Precautionary Principle to strengthen Quaternary Prevention when dealing with additive preventive measures such as breast cancer screening. According to Geoffrey Rose additive preventive measures are generally professional-led interventions that are alien to human ecology, economy, and physiology. These include drugs, vaccines and other biological, physical, and chemical products. Additive preventive measures can produce harm without potential benefit since most individuals are asymptomatic (healthy) and not destined to become sick in the future. Consequently, additive preventive measures cannot be considered safe and policymakers are accountable for providing evidence of their net benefit.

Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health. Tesser CD, Norman AH, Gérvas J. Cad Saude Publica. 2019 Jul 22;35(7):e00048319. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00048319. Download article here.

Quaternary prevention: a task of the general practitioner

Pedro Gérvas — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:57:57 +0000

-“Prevention is better than cure”. This principle is undisputed. New knowledge points to the fact that prevention can also do harm. Under the concept “quaternary prevention” efforts are currently focused on finding the right measure of preventive care, true to the old medical tenet “primum non nocere”.

Quaternary prevention: a task of the general practitioner. Kuehlein, T., Sghedoni, D., Visentin, G., Gérvas, J., Jamoule, M. [Quartäre Prävention, eine Aufgabe für Hausärzte]. PrimaryCare. 2010; 10(18): 350-4. Download article here.

Measles outbreaks, a public health focus

Pedro — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 05:27:09 +0000

We have problems with measles. But the key question is not the acceptance of the vaccine, but access to it and problems with its effectiveness. Before thinking in mandatory policies, think in improving access and efectiveness.

Measles outbreaks, a public health focus. Gérvas J. Madrid, Spain. April 2019. Download article here.