Newsweek – What if I told you there’s a preventative health measure that has saved more lives than almost any other medical intervention in history?
That it’s rigorously tested and remarkably cost-effective? That sounds like it would be universally celebrated, right?
A few weeks ago, I found myself surrounded by 17 people who were deeply skeptical of this particular intervention—many of them passionately shared emotional stories as well as debunked or fringe rhetoric.
As you’ve probably guessed, I am talking about vaccines.
As a family physician, I joined this profession because I believe in harnessing the power of science to save lives, but science alone can’t finish the job. Today, two forces slow vaccine progress: limited access and viral misinformation.
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In early 2017, I came to a stark realization. The absence of qualified medical experts online created an easy opportunity for bad actors to mislead the public.
I took action and began sharing evidence-based information on YouTube where I counter dangerous myths and misinformation to a now growing audience of 14 million subscribers.
But debunking myths is only half the battle; getting vaccine shots into arms matters just as much.
A Dose of Good News
Let’s start with the facts: Vaccines save lives.
A 2024 study published in The Lancet estimated that vaccines have saved 154 million lives over the past 50 years. That’s six people every minute, every day, for five decades. Vaccines don’t just prevent disease—they extend life, reduce suffering, and protect entire communities.
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The victories speak for themselves. Take smallpox: a vicious virus that once claimed millions every year, now gone for good—officially erased in 1980 by the very tool some folks still doubt.
Next up is polio. Wild poliovirus currently survives in only two countries—Afghanistan and Pakistan—where UNICEF’s vaccine efforts are closing in on complete eradication.
Measles tells a similar success story …