Anti-vaccination sentiment is still spreading in our communities. People have lost faith in the authorities and in the medical field, and they are finding their own way. Unfortunately for them, the decision not to vaccinate their children will backfire.

Just this morning I read that there is a Measles outbreak ongoing in Ohio. For months now I've been reading about a resurgence of polio in New York. And of course Military personnel will no longer be required to take the Covid vaccine. The backlash against vaccination (what people perceive as an assault on bodily autonomy) will result in an increased death rate from vaccinatable diseases.

It's not an easy question, when and how to vaccinate. I don't exactly trust the official recommendations either, because I know that the guidelines are created by a council packed with representatives of Big Pharma. I am sympathetic with those who are skeptical. And I see the writing on the wall. If you don't vaccinate smartly, you are destined to be diseased.

There are a lot of anti-vax media personalities and websites that are spreading a bunch of BS. You can't believe everything you read on the internet. Of course you know that. But you also can't believe everything you read that you already agree with. If you seek "information" that supports your current position about ANYTHING, you could be allowing Confirmation Bias to steer you into a trap.

Rather than seeking supportive information, seek out the information that tries to prove your belief wrong. Test your belief. Check your understanding against what the experts say. Check your medical knowledge against the CDC, or come bounce it on me. I am not parroting anyone's sound bytes, I am a true student of medicine. I am interested in scientific studies or background information that sheds light on the hard questions.

The problem with the anti-vax craze is that a lot of the so-called "information" is coming from people who have zero science background and very little understanding of the actual risks and benefits of vaccination. Unfortunately for the anti-vaxxers, their sources are misguided and downright wrong about a lot of things. And they and their kids will suffer and die as a result.

I am always one to look for silver linings, and this particular situation has just one, which is that a reduction in the human population would be a quick way to reduce our impact on the planet. We are destroying habitat and polluting air and water at such a rate as to cause massive suffering and death in the not-so-distant future. Anti-vaxxers are offering to remove themselves and their children from the human population which will be a boon to future generations who survive diseases because their ancestors were vaccinated.

It is unfortunate that simply saying the above headline to a person of color is now considered RACIST. Unfortunate because in the pursuit of health, it is helpful to understand a person's genetic makeup. You learn a person's genetic makeup by exploring their deep history. "Where did your people come from?" is a question I have used for years to begin to understand this. I get very interesting answers and stories.

It would be so much easier if everyone would do genetic testing like to assess their origins. If someone were to ask me "Where are you REALLY from" I would answer "I am a Euro-mutt."  If they pressed me further, I'd say I'm from "Northern and Western Europe, plus a trace of Polynesian islander". In spite of family lore and my blood type, I know that I am not descended from the native tribes of North America--unless 23 and Me (the gene testing I used) has mistaken Native American genes for Polynesian. I have no way to assess that.

Discussing people's origins and genetics is important in medicine. To really understand a person's evolutionary predispositions and needs, we need to know where (or better, WHO) they are "from".

I understand that people of color have long been harassed by repeated questions along these lines. I know that recently a British royal employee apologized and resigned after questioning an Australian official this way. The social ramifications are playing out as they must in this time of high sensitivity. As medical professional, I maintain that we need to be allowed to talk about our evolution and genetics, because if we cannot, we are deprived of a huge and growing resource.

Genetics and epigenetics will be part of the Future of Medicine. There is no avoiding it. Learning about a person's evolutionary origins is not racist in this setting, it is humanist. It is an attempt to understand, and to help.

Please be kind to each other. Regardless of variations in genetics and in appearance, we are all human. It is my opinion that all humans deserve a certain base level of respect and dignity. Give it. Without question. Work to recognize and deprogram your biases. Accept that not all words that hit your buttons are "racist" or sexist. Your buttons are YOUR biases, your programming, and only you have the ability to do something about them.

Image below: Skin with low melanin, and its layers.