Universal vaccination could save 60million + lives per year!

[Phteven]

I wonder what a teenager from a developing country would say if we asked them this question:
"In Australia, children are given medicine that can stop them getting some of the diseases that are killing your brothers and sisters and causing tremendous pain. Although a small number of people worry that there might be harmful side effects, most of the country gets this medicine. Do you think you have the right to get this medicine?"

I think that you've raised a really good point - why do we assume the right to say what is good for the developing world? Surely they should be able to make the same choices as us. Some of us choose to vaccinate other choose not to. It would be nice if that choice was global rather than restricted to us.

Just out of interest though, if I did have a few billion dollars hanging about then I'd probably invest in mosquito nets and mosquito eradication...

Mozzie nets yes. Eradication, no. Messing with the ecosystem always seems to have unintended consequences.

[brogeybear]

Hmmm....simple fact is that there are no profits to be made by providing clean water.

[Phteven]

^ Tell that to Cadbury Schweppes, CocaCola and Evian.

[Little Chicken]

And yarra water etc

[brogeybear]

In comparrison to the money to be made in vaccines.