Vaccination: Not vaccinating children is selfish and dangerous

We live in a country where children’s vaccination is mandatory, yet our vaccination rates are lower than in Germany, where infant vaccination is not legally enforced. Some claim that the flu vaccine actually causes the flu and even leads to a worse course of illness. We constantly hear about an HIV vaccine (the cause of AIDS – acquired immune deficiency syndrome), but somehow it never materializes…

Do pharmaceutical companies really keep miracle drugs in drawers to profit from long-term treatments with less effective remedies? But then how do we explain the drug sofosbuvir, which promises to completely eradicate such a sneaky disease as viral hepatitis C? Should we fear viruses and bacteria in the hands of terrorists, or something else entirely, often overlooked? And will we one day be vaccinated against the annoying common cold?

We believe this conversation will not only make you think and entertain you, but maybe even inspire you to brush your teeth more often. ;-)

What was covered in the lecture?

• How Google unknowingly (and unintentionally?) supports conspiracy theories and their spread – 17:30
• Surprising reasons why some people refuse medication, even when it means death – 21:50
• An unexpected trick we can use every day to protect ourselves from Alzheimer’s disease – 24:28
• What is a far scarier nightmare than viruses in the hands of terrorists (and almost no one knows about it) – 49:02

Who are the guests?

Jan Konvalinka is a biochemist, molecular biologist, and expert on human pathogens. He works at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. He is the author of more than 90 original scientific papers in international journals. He has received numerous awards for his scientific work and is a member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic.

Ladislav Machala is an infectious disease specialist with 40 years of clinical practice at the AIDS Center of the Clinic of Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases at Bulovka Hospital and at the 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. He is the author of many scientific papers and publications.