Interesting article. My husband and I are both physicians and we were discussing the immunization issue after reading this article. Many large corporations monetize their employees’ health by offering money off their insurance premiums or extra money in their pocket.
What if we monetized children’s health by sending preloaded credit cards with a specified amount to families that get their kids’ vaccines on schedule?
The kids get protected, the community at large benefits and we reward families for doing right by their kids.
You are so right- no one notices the things that don’t happen. I learned about measles from a textbook because we had eradicated it by the time I got to medical school. The residents I taught learned about chickenpox from textbooks because of the chickenpox vaccine.
Let’s actually try something that works-rewarding financially good preventive health behavior.
That would be an awesome program....credit card specifically for immunizations .....that could really fix irradicating some awful diseases and protect our people. You are one of the reasons I read some of the comments under these wonderful newsletters!
I think Valerie was suggesting a cash payment after vaccination that could be spent on anything as an incentive since those with insurance don’t pay for the vaccine. But your idea could work too for those who are anti-vax and can’t afford them. Maybe 2 payments? 1 for the vaccine if you need it and 1 to everyone who gets their kids vaccinated. I’m old and childless and would still rather pay for prevention any day. I did have measles and, fortunately, had no lasting after effects. The vaccine didn’t exist yet. On the other hand, if polio was the vaccine in the sugar cube, then I’m good for about 4 lifetimes (I kept getting in line for the sugar cube and they let me!).
I’m ornery enough to think that people who are anti-vax should be isolated and not provided medical care when they turn up sick from very preventable diseases. If they don’t have a medical reason (like autoimmune problems verified by a licensed MD) then they don’t belong in a civilized society where you do things not just because it’s good for you, but because it’s good for the community. Again, never had children but I don’t mind paying property taxes to fund schools because an educated electorate is how we prevent the likes of Trump, RFK Jr. (although he is technically “educated”) and the rest of the ignorati.
I agree! I love being part of the community that reads and replies. So many knowledgeable and committed individuals, committed, that is, to the health of citizens and our democracy!
I like this line of thinking and am going to go out a little further with it. If parents are anti vaxxers it would seem that there is no incentive to get them to vaccinate their children because they believe they are keeping their children safe by not vaccinating them. If they don't vaccinate because of financial reasons it would be a great help. I have no idea what fully vaccinating a child out of pocket would cost - do you? And what is the percentage of kids who don't get vaccinated for financial reasons or social reasons? I don't even know if kids get vaccinated at school (I did for polio) or drugstores or doctor's offices.
So I just looked up the cost for the two shot MMR series and it costs between $ 180-250 without insurance. BUT anyone can go to their health department and get the immunization for nothing. Unlike when I was a child and the health department showed up at school one has to get themselves there.
My point is that we incentivize adults for doing things that improve their health. Much as I hate this in terms of preventive medicine I think an anti vaxxer family might think different if they got a pre paid credit card for say like $500 for getting their kids’shots. Folks today don’t see the consequences of their choices. Just wander a cemetery that has burials from the 1880s to the 1930s and you will find a high percentage of child graves- a lot of these kids died from vaccine preventable illnesses. I didn’t realize how bad whooping cough was until I cared for some children who had not been vaccinated. The natural course of whooping cough (pertussis) prior to the vaccine and effective antibiotics 14 out every 100 kids had permenant brain damage of varying degrees. That makes you stop and think.
Thanks for the info. I live in the midst of a population that does not vaccinate. I am going to start conversations. As sad as this is I think the parents will need a financial incentive of their own - the remainder of funds on the card after vaccination. Or the health dept will have to give out the card after vaccination. Would there be means testing? Also - an even sadder thought - I believe many people who live in my neck of the woods do not vaccinate in silent protest to "the man telling them what to do." They bow to peer pressure - not vaccinating because it will make them look woke. I know it sounds ridiculous but there are over 30 million ridiculous people who have to be convinced they are ridiculous.
As a person who lives in the woods in Appalachia I am shocked this is the first I have heard of this program. Nice analogy. Although I know this program exist for humans I love that its side effect saves animals from a terrible sickness too.
Thank you, Adam. I never knew about this program, but as you said, we don’t celebrate things that don’t happen. But we really should, because this is such a vital program. Much thanks to the tireless “wood choppers” who do this work, and to the many others behind the scenes of our nation as they keep the wheels greased and rolling. Fabulous metaphor for our current situation. May we return to serious and honorable national leadership soon.
Thank you, Adam, for an uplifting hopeful Sunday message. It is hard to think that in my senior years, I would see our country be dismantled as Trump has done in just a mere 1-1/2 years, but people like you and your positive outlook give me hope that even in the few years I may have left, I might still be able to see a few of the things return to our country that truly made it great. Bless you for your message.
"The harder promise is to find the places where our democracy gave way this time, the specific weaknesses we watched get exploited in broad daylight, and close them for good."
This MUST be the mission of the next [hopefully Democratic] president - not just to restore the things that can be restored [like the White House and grounds], but to reform the things that didn't hold.
I'd never heard of the raccoon rabies project until now, but it's precisely these kinds of programs that Trump and his mindless hatchet men have torn down without any concern for how they've protected generations of us.
There will be A LOT of reform and restoration work on the plate of the next president, and I hope all of us will have the patience and resolve to ensure it happens. GREAT article, Adam! Thanks!
Rabies, like most viruses, spreads through opportunity — it needs an opening. Tyranny works the same way: it finds democracy's open wounds and moves in. Our failure to address the housing crisis left one such wound, and Trump walked through it. If we want to stop the next wannabe dictator, we need to heal that wound and build immunity before another one opens.
Best to get vaccinated against rabies ahead of time. The merest scratch from a contaminated surface can be fatal - I had a 22 year old very fit neighbour who died from rabies after an unnoticed scratch on his arm in a cave filled with bats (which are often carriers}.
Vaccinating for pre-exposure is very expensive now, almost cost prohibitive but for people who work directly with wildlife and domestic animals or those going to areas of the world where there is a high incidence of rabies it is usually recommended. I live in California where the prime carrier of rabies are bats and skunks. When they are disturbed in their roosting areas, they will urinate and defecate. This happens also when they are getting ready to fly out and feed. There has been at least one incidence of a person contracting rabies through inhaling the mist this creates because it can carry a load of the virus. However, the bats serve a vital purpose for us in devouring mosquitoes and other flying insects. With other viruses such West Nile and Zika being present, this is an assist to the control. The main defense has always been diligent vaccination of domestic dogs along with licensing which helped support low cost dog vaccination clinics. Yet people balk at getting the vaccinations because they believe the viruses don't exist in their area and they don't like the government telling them what to do. These preventative programs can not exist without some type of funding to pay for personnel to operate them and for the "Raccoon ravioli". In some areas funding comes out of Public Safety taxes. And we have all been promised our taxes will be reduced so they cut where they think they can skate by. Of course, this also is all based in science which many in our government choose to dismiss. I pay taxes to support such programs that serve the common good of the public not the enrichment of the Public officials.
Love this post! I never thought I’d be moved reading about raccoons. Keep shouting from the mountaintop, Adam. Happy Sunday.
exactly my thoughts.. I saw a rabid raccoon once and it wasn't a pretty sight! they suffer...
"We owe the same thing forward to the Americans who’ll be alive the next time a creature like this comes crawling out of the woods."
I'm pretty sure he's talking about a 2-legged raccoon here. And I agree wholeheartedly.
Maybe he’s talking about the disease itself. That would fit. 🦠
Yes!
I’m thinking of another creature crawling out.
Interesting article. My husband and I are both physicians and we were discussing the immunization issue after reading this article. Many large corporations monetize their employees’ health by offering money off their insurance premiums or extra money in their pocket.
What if we monetized children’s health by sending preloaded credit cards with a specified amount to families that get their kids’ vaccines on schedule?
The kids get protected, the community at large benefits and we reward families for doing right by their kids.
You are so right- no one notices the things that don’t happen. I learned about measles from a textbook because we had eradicated it by the time I got to medical school. The residents I taught learned about chickenpox from textbooks because of the chickenpox vaccine.
Let’s actually try something that works-rewarding financially good preventive health behavior.
That would be an awesome program....credit card specifically for immunizations .....that could really fix irradicating some awful diseases and protect our people. You are one of the reasons I read some of the comments under these wonderful newsletters!
I think Valerie was suggesting a cash payment after vaccination that could be spent on anything as an incentive since those with insurance don’t pay for the vaccine. But your idea could work too for those who are anti-vax and can’t afford them. Maybe 2 payments? 1 for the vaccine if you need it and 1 to everyone who gets their kids vaccinated. I’m old and childless and would still rather pay for prevention any day. I did have measles and, fortunately, had no lasting after effects. The vaccine didn’t exist yet. On the other hand, if polio was the vaccine in the sugar cube, then I’m good for about 4 lifetimes (I kept getting in line for the sugar cube and they let me!).
I’m ornery enough to think that people who are anti-vax should be isolated and not provided medical care when they turn up sick from very preventable diseases. If they don’t have a medical reason (like autoimmune problems verified by a licensed MD) then they don’t belong in a civilized society where you do things not just because it’s good for you, but because it’s good for the community. Again, never had children but I don’t mind paying property taxes to fund schools because an educated electorate is how we prevent the likes of Trump, RFK Jr. (although he is technically “educated”) and the rest of the ignorati.
I agree! I love being part of the community that reads and replies. So many knowledgeable and committed individuals, committed, that is, to the health of citizens and our democracy!
I like this line of thinking and am going to go out a little further with it. If parents are anti vaxxers it would seem that there is no incentive to get them to vaccinate their children because they believe they are keeping their children safe by not vaccinating them. If they don't vaccinate because of financial reasons it would be a great help. I have no idea what fully vaccinating a child out of pocket would cost - do you? And what is the percentage of kids who don't get vaccinated for financial reasons or social reasons? I don't even know if kids get vaccinated at school (I did for polio) or drugstores or doctor's offices.
So I just looked up the cost for the two shot MMR series and it costs between $ 180-250 without insurance. BUT anyone can go to their health department and get the immunization for nothing. Unlike when I was a child and the health department showed up at school one has to get themselves there.
My point is that we incentivize adults for doing things that improve their health. Much as I hate this in terms of preventive medicine I think an anti vaxxer family might think different if they got a pre paid credit card for say like $500 for getting their kids’shots. Folks today don’t see the consequences of their choices. Just wander a cemetery that has burials from the 1880s to the 1930s and you will find a high percentage of child graves- a lot of these kids died from vaccine preventable illnesses. I didn’t realize how bad whooping cough was until I cared for some children who had not been vaccinated. The natural course of whooping cough (pertussis) prior to the vaccine and effective antibiotics 14 out every 100 kids had permenant brain damage of varying degrees. That makes you stop and think.
Thanks for the info. I live in the midst of a population that does not vaccinate. I am going to start conversations. As sad as this is I think the parents will need a financial incentive of their own - the remainder of funds on the card after vaccination. Or the health dept will have to give out the card after vaccination. Would there be means testing? Also - an even sadder thought - I believe many people who live in my neck of the woods do not vaccinate in silent protest to "the man telling them what to do." They bow to peer pressure - not vaccinating because it will make them look woke. I know it sounds ridiculous but there are over 30 million ridiculous people who have to be convinced they are ridiculous.
What ever happened to getting your children vaccinated because it is necessary to the health of your child and others?!
Internet propaganda from certifiable nuts.
As a person who lives in the woods in Appalachia I am shocked this is the first I have heard of this program. Nice analogy. Although I know this program exist for humans I love that its side effect saves animals from a terrible sickness too.
Thank you, Adam. I never knew about this program, but as you said, we don’t celebrate things that don’t happen. But we really should, because this is such a vital program. Much thanks to the tireless “wood choppers” who do this work, and to the many others behind the scenes of our nation as they keep the wheels greased and rolling. Fabulous metaphor for our current situation. May we return to serious and honorable national leadership soon.
Thank you, Adam, for ALL you do for ALL of US!
You speak the TRUTH!
Paying it forward. A kindness begets a kindness. Seems so simple and natural.
choppin wood, makes more sense than ever.
Thank you, Adam. I always look forward to your "Good News Sunday" post. You keep choppin' and we'll be right beside you swingin' that axe.
Thank you, Adam, for an uplifting hopeful Sunday message. It is hard to think that in my senior years, I would see our country be dismantled as Trump has done in just a mere 1-1/2 years, but people like you and your positive outlook give me hope that even in the few years I may have left, I might still be able to see a few of the things return to our country that truly made it great. Bless you for your message.
Love love this post… wonderful to hear some great news. And everyone go and vote 🗳️ we need a tsunami 🌊!!!
And if people want to be an especially good wood-chopper, volunteer to work at the polls.
"The harder promise is to find the places where our democracy gave way this time, the specific weaknesses we watched get exploited in broad daylight, and close them for good."
This MUST be the mission of the next [hopefully Democratic] president - not just to restore the things that can be restored [like the White House and grounds], but to reform the things that didn't hold.
I'd never heard of the raccoon rabies project until now, but it's precisely these kinds of programs that Trump and his mindless hatchet men have torn down without any concern for how they've protected generations of us.
There will be A LOT of reform and restoration work on the plate of the next president, and I hope all of us will have the patience and resolve to ensure it happens. GREAT article, Adam! Thanks!
You are so right Adam, thank you for this wonderful post. Hope you’re feeling better.
Rabies, like most viruses, spreads through opportunity — it needs an opening. Tyranny works the same way: it finds democracy's open wounds and moves in. Our failure to address the housing crisis left one such wound, and Trump walked through it. If we want to stop the next wannabe dictator, we need to heal that wound and build immunity before another one opens.
Great post. You are so right. I hope someone out there is taking notes!
Best to get vaccinated against rabies ahead of time. The merest scratch from a contaminated surface can be fatal - I had a 22 year old very fit neighbour who died from rabies after an unnoticed scratch on his arm in a cave filled with bats (which are often carriers}.
Vaccinating for pre-exposure is very expensive now, almost cost prohibitive but for people who work directly with wildlife and domestic animals or those going to areas of the world where there is a high incidence of rabies it is usually recommended. I live in California where the prime carrier of rabies are bats and skunks. When they are disturbed in their roosting areas, they will urinate and defecate. This happens also when they are getting ready to fly out and feed. There has been at least one incidence of a person contracting rabies through inhaling the mist this creates because it can carry a load of the virus. However, the bats serve a vital purpose for us in devouring mosquitoes and other flying insects. With other viruses such West Nile and Zika being present, this is an assist to the control. The main defense has always been diligent vaccination of domestic dogs along with licensing which helped support low cost dog vaccination clinics. Yet people balk at getting the vaccinations because they believe the viruses don't exist in their area and they don't like the government telling them what to do. These preventative programs can not exist without some type of funding to pay for personnel to operate them and for the "Raccoon ravioli". In some areas funding comes out of Public Safety taxes. And we have all been promised our taxes will be reduced so they cut where they think they can skate by. Of course, this also is all based in science which many in our government choose to dismiss. I pay taxes to support such programs that serve the common good of the public not the enrichment of the Public officials.