Now that we are seeing outbreaks of diseases that were once relegated to the history books and vaccine labels, and now that even Jenny McCarthy seems unable to control the beast she helped to create, perhaps it’s time for some stronger rhetoric than mere science and mockery.
The following photo was taken during World War II at the 363rd Station Hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (which was part of Australia at the time):
![By Otis Historical Archives of National Museum of Health & Medicine (OTIS Archive 1) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://crypticphilosopher.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Atabrine_advertisement_in_Guinea_during_WW2.jpg "By Otis Historical Archives of National Museum of Health & Medicine (OTIS Archive 1) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
About 27,000 Allied soldiers contracted malaria in New Guinea during the campaign against Japan, which lasted more than three years, from early 1942 until the war ended in August 1945. Antimalarial drugs were among the most effective tools in controlling the disease.
You didn’t forget your antimalarial meds. If you did, you had a pretty good chance of dying, even without anyone shooting at you.
So go get your dang vaccines. Any questions?
Photo credit: By Otis Historical Archives of the National Museum of Health & Medicine (OTIS Archive 1) ref: D44-145-1 (MAMAS)Â [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
