Summary

Wellbeing and immunizations are linked. Immunizations (vaccines) prevent infectious diseases. Vaccines prevent deaths. Vaccines prevent hospitalizations. Vaccines prevent loss of physical functioning. Vaccines save money for the community. Ask your Governor to collaborate with other states to ensure your state has access to vaccines and to scientifically grounded immunization guidelines. Get vaccinated to protect yourself and your community.

Wellbeing and Immunizations

Immunizations and wellbeing are linked. This statement is based in science. Let’s talk about wellbeing and immunizations.

Why Immunize?

The primary reason to be immunized is to prevent a disease from occurring in an individual. That’s the selfish reason. The altruistic reason is to prevent a disease from occurring in large numbers of the population. In order to achieve the latter, we have to reach herd immunity.

Herd immunity is when enough people in the community are vaccinated (and have antibodies) against a disease to prevent spread of the disease. Herd immunity depends on a number of variables, including the contagiousness of the disease. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the delta and omicron variants were very contagious, leading to the recommendation that at least 85% of the population needed to be vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of those variants.

The answer to the question in the heading is complicated and it is very simple. We immunize in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. And, immunization campaigns have been very successful. There is a link below for the World Health Organization which provides a brief history of vaccines.

Why Are There Objections to Vaccines?

Hmmm. Loaded question.

I posit that people object to vaccines primarily due to lack of information. I mean this in the kindest way. Information can free us. With information we can make decisions based on fact. Yes, we decide with our heart, our mind, and our soul, in my opinion. Combining our heartfelt sentiments, with our logical thought process, and with our spiritual compass, we make decisions in what I call being wise. Like the WISE Mind component of Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy model of treatment.

Sometimes, we respond to situations viscerally, as in physically with an emotional reaction that is not based on fact. An example of a visceral response is when a person who has experienced war is startled and starts to run and hide in response to an explosive sound. The programming of the mind and body was a necessary skill developed in the context of a life-threatening situation. It is a counterproductive reaction in the context of a fireworks display.

I believe that information is a power tool which is withheld from some people in order to keep them subjugated. Dictators do this. Dictators constrain the media to deliver news reports favourable to the dictator. Dictators create false narratives to prevent the people from knowing the truth. Dictators spew conspiracy theories to corral support, tapping into the visceral reactions of people. Dictators spread lies in order to demonize their opponents. Dictators, basically, weaponize information. The power tool of information, when weaponized, prevents people from knowing the truth, from basing their actions on the truth.

In my opinion, RFK Jr, the current Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has weaponized information about vaccines. I am not certain if his actions include a large dose of intellectual deficits on his behalf. Regardless, the misinformation and disinformation that he has been spreading for many years, in my opinion, have now resulted in a large segment of the population of the USA failing to have their children vaccinated which directly led to the current measles outbreak spreading across the USA.

Powerful people in powerful positions have led to many people objecting to vaccines.

What Does Immunization Have to Do with Wellbeing?

Everything. Immunization has everything to do with wellbeing.

From 1994 to 2023: Millions of lives saved (yes, deaths prevented) by vaccinating people. Millions of hospitalizations prevented. Millions of illnesses prevented. Trillions of dollars saved. Those are the data of a study reviewed in the New England Journal of Medicine. (I would cite the original study by Zhou et al published in August 2024 except that would take you to a CDC or NIH website. As noted below, I cannot trust the USA government websites to continue to carry sound scientific articles: at any time, the research article by Zhou et al may be purged.)

Immunizations prevent morbidity and mortality

Have you ever seen the consequences of polio in someone who was born before the polio vaccine was available? I have.

Do you know what happens when there is an Ebola outbreak and why it is important to have the Ebola vaccine?

The consequences of infectious diseases which are preventable by vaccination may include death, as with Ebola and COVID. The consequences may include physical impairment, as with polio. The consequences affect our wellbeing and the wellbeing of our communities. A person dies and we experience not just grief but also the loss of a member of our community. A person’s physical abilities are impaired by a disease and that person no longer can contribute to society as they used to do so: that affects their sense of self, their expectations for themselves, their independence, their connectedness to other people, and their financial autonomy. And, when a member of our community is affected, each of us is affected.

Remember, we do not live in a vacuum. We are interconnected. Social connectedness directly affects our wellbeing. Meaningful day activity affects our wellbeing.

It takes a village to raise a child.

Call to Action: Wellbeing and Immunizations

I have a bold request: become informed and speak up. Act to promote wellbeing and immunizations.

Call the office of the Governor of your state. Ask what they are doing to ensure that your state has access to vaccines and has access to sound scientific data and evidence-based immunization practice guidelines.

Ask the Governor of your state to join local alliances or coalitions. We are stronger together. In healthcare, we know that we are better practitioners when we read, read, read, and consult professional organizations which disseminate research and practice guidelines based on science.

Remind the Governor of your state that through collaboration with other states we are stronger; we can promote wellbeing and immunizations.

Remind the Governor of your state that herd immunity is achievable only if we actually have access to vaccines. Regional coalitions of states can better bargain to gain access to vaccines than can a single state.

Tell the Governor of your state about the coalition or alliance in your geographic region.

In the Northeast, we have a coalition of the following states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine.

The West Coast Health Alliance consists of California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington State.

Remember: It takes a village to raise a child. And to protect a child.

Music, of course, to inspire:

Let’s recall the desperation of COVID-19 and the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme by listening to this gem:

“My Shot” COVID-19 Parody (Mount Sinai Health System, NYC)

HipHop Public Health: Community Immunity Series of Videos

https://www.hhph.org/learning-studio/media-resources/community-immunity

And, this is what collaboration can achieve:

Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli, performing ‘The Prayer’, collaborating with many other musicians:

Wellbeing and Immunizations through collaboration, just like in music.

Let’s show the way. Let’s collaborate. Let’s protect each other, through vaccination.

Be safe. Be well. Be kind.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your mental health care professional team.

If you are thinking of hurting yourself or of hurting someone else, please CALL 9-1-1; CALL 9-8-8; or GO TO the nearest emergency room.

Selected References:

American Academy of Pediatrics (2025). Immunizations. American Academy of Pediatrics Patient Care. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/immunizations/?srsltid=AfmBOoojRXR_Yok1gGt6BMm_YAiLwLTEjMyuR5RPVA15Q5qLQG0IXJnP

Cleveland Clinic (03/16/2022). Herd Immunity. Cleveland Clinic Articles. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22599-herd-immunity

Greene, P. (June 18, 2024). What Exactly is “Wise Mind” in DBT? Manhattan Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://manhattancbt.com/wise-mind-dbt/

Haim-Litevsky, D., Komemi, R., Lipskaya-Velikovksy, L., Bosco, A., and Tchounwo, P.B. (2023). Sense of Belonging, Meaningful Day Life Participation, and Well-Being: Integrated Investigation. Int. J Envron Res Public Health, 20(5): 4121. Accessed online on September 22, 2024, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10002207/

Harflett, N., Jennings, Y., and Linsky, K. (2017). Introduction to the research on the impact of meaningful activity for people with mental health problems. National Development for Inclusion, NHS Foundation Trust (NHS Camden and Islington). Accessed online on September 22, 2024, at https://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/the-impact-and-effectiveness-of-meaningful-activity-for-people-with-mental

Huang, P. (September 6, 2025). Concerned about federal vaccine policies, states are crafting their own. NPR Shots HealthNews. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/06/nx-s1-5532121/states-vaccine-guidance-washington-oregon-new-mexico

Lehman, D. (October 7, 2024). The Remarkable Success of Childhood Vaccination in the U.S. NEJM Journal Watch. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://www.jwatch.org/na57812/2024/10/07/remarkable-success-childhood-vaccination-us

Marchant, J. (July/August 2024). A Buried Ancient Egyptian Port Reveals Connections Between Distant Civilizations. Smithsonian Magazine. Accessed online on September 22, 2024, at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hidden-ancient-egyptian-port-reveals-180984485/

Marshall, C.A., Gewurtz, R., Holmes, J., Phillips, B., Aryobi, S., and Smith-Carrier, T. (2023). Meaningful Day Activity, Psychosocial Wellbeing, and Poverty During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study. Can J Occup Ther, 90(2): 136-151. Accessed online on September 22, 2024, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10040486/

NHS Foundation Trust. Development for Inclusion, NHS Foundation Trust (NHS Camden and Islington). Accessed online on September 22, 2024, at https://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/the-impact-and-effectiveness-of-meaningful-activity-for-people-with-mental

Rao, P. (March 4, 2025). A Visual Breakdown of Who Owns America’s Wealth. Visual Capitalist. Accessed online on August 31, 2025, at https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-visual-breakdown-of-who-owns-americas-wealth/

Shmerling, R.H. (September 3, 2025). Measles in Making a Comeback: Can We Stop It? Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/measles-is-making-a-comeback-can-we-stop-it-202503063091

UN Innovation Network. June 15, 2023. The Neuroscience of Peace and Conflict. Accessed online on March 9, 2025, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxJPHLbipNM

World Health Organization (2025). History of Vaccination. World Health Organization Newsroom Spotlight. Accessed online on September 6, 2025, at https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination

Zaki, J. (May 14, 2020). Catastrophe Compassion: Understanding and Extending Prosociality Under Crisis. Trends Cogn. Sci, 24(8): 587-589. Accessed online on November 17, 2024, at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7221394/#:~:text=Extending%20Catastrophe%20Compassion&text=Floods%2C%20bombings%2C%20and%20earthquakes%20are,boundaries%20that%20typically%20separate%20people.

Nota Bene:

USA Government websites are being purged by the current Trump Administration to align the website content with the regime’s political agenda. Please note that any government website cited in this and other posts on this website may no longer contain evidence based or historically correct information. Thus, I am trying to avoid including any references or resources which derive from a USA government website. This is not bias; I take this action in an effort to maintain a factually sound content in my posts.