Sometimes medical/public health discoveries/recommendations fly in the face of cultural norms, superstition, and fear

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Sometimes medical/public health discoveries/recommendations fly in the face of cultural norms, superstition, and fear. The good modern day example of this that I can think of is the vaccine controversy.

We live in a country where vaccine coverage has been (up until this point) so complete that we as a society probably cannot appreciate the reason vaccines were invented in the first place...to save lives. They were invented because in the past many children were permanently injured or even died from those illnesses in surprising numbers.

Until recently, vaccines have eliminated much of this morbidity and mortality in the United States. Unfortunately, since these diseases have not been eradicated globally (like smallpox was, with vaccines) countries where people do not have the vaccine coverage that we had are still experiencing these epidemics, often with devastating consequences. All we have to do is a little math to realize: (unvaccinated Americans + a trip abroad) + (unvaccinated Americans + international tourism in the US) = re-surgence of childhood diseases like measles.

So...it really doesn't matter if you never leave San Diego County...or go to Disneyland...once it starts here ALL unvaccinated individuals are at risk.