Adam Jacobs 🇺🇦Mar 18

I'm sure I've said it before, but I think it bears repeating: many of the societal problems that we face, which might superficially be regarded as something that we look to science to solve, are in fact not problems for natural sciences, but problems for social sciences and politics.

Looking at the horrible #meningitis B outbreak in Kent, the question to ask is not "how can science keep us safe from such things?" Scientists have already given us an effective vaccine against meningitis B.

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Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Mar 18

The question to ask is "why did politicians decide not to give this vaccine to teenagers and young adults?"

https://news.sky.com/story/kent-meningitis-outbreak-a-cruel-reminder-young-people-are-most-at-risk-13520607

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#Meningitis #MeningitisB #Vaccines

Kent meningitis outbreak a cruel reminder young people are most at risk

Contacts of the cases in Kent are being traced and offered antibiotics, reducing the risk that the current outbreak will grow. But for those made ill, it's horrific.

Sky
Show threadEbly Pamplemousse
@statsguy clearly the thinking was that it was cheaper to give antibiotics to a small cohort and inpatient treatment to a smaller number, than to increase the number of men B vaccines and vaccinate a larger number.
On paper, 1 or 2 deaths is worth the cost; whether it's still worth it, only Streeting can say.
Mar 18 at 11:04amWeb