On Immunity audiobook cover - An Inoculation

On Immunity

An Inoculation

Eula Biss

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ScienceHealth & Nutrition

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On Immunity
Ancient Myths & Parental Fears+
Health Fears & Misinformation+
Metaphors of Violence & Impurity+
Social Identity & Stigma+
The 'Natural' Fallacy+
Imperialism & Distrust+
Militaristic Language+
Herd Immunity & Community+
Infection Risks vs. Vaccines+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
Why does the author reference the ancient myth of Achilles and his mother Thetis?
  • A. To show that ancient civilizations practiced early, primitive forms of immunization.
  • B. To illustrate the timeless parental struggle of trying to protect children but unwittingly leaving them vulnerable.
  • C. To argue that modern medicine is vastly superior to ancient superstitions.
  • D. To prove that natural, water-based remedies have historically been ineffective.
Question 2 of 9
What was a genuine historical risk associated with early vaccines in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?
  • A. They frequently caused autism in young children.
  • B. They were known to cause widespread outbreaks of polio.
  • C. They could transmit serious diseases like syphilis or be contaminated with tetanus.
  • D. They were often laced with dangerous amounts of aluminum and mercury.
Question 3 of 9
According to the text, why did some parents object to the introduction of the HPV vaccine for young girls?
  • A. They feared it would overwhelm the girls' developing immune systems.
  • B. They associated it with impurity and feared it might promote sexual promiscuity.
  • C. They believed the vaccine contained highly toxic levels of mercury.
  • D. They thought the vaccine was an experimental biological weapon.
Question 4 of 9
Why did infection rates for Hepatitis B fail to drop immediately after the vaccine became available in 1981?
  • A. The vaccine was ineffective against the dominant strain of the virus.
  • B. It was advised only for 'high risk groups,' causing privileged people to avoid it to prevent association with those groups.
  • C. It was too expensive for the general public to afford.
  • D. The vaccine caused severe allergic reactions, leading to a temporary halt in its distribution.
Question 5 of 9
How does the book counter the mass misperception that vaccines are 'unnatural'?
  • A. By explaining that vaccines are entirely synthesized from organic plant materials.
  • B. By showing that the chemicals in vaccines are naturally found in a mother's breast milk.
  • C. By pointing out that vaccines are classified as biologicals and rely on the body's natural immune response to work.
  • D. By proving that diseases themselves are man-made, making vaccines the only natural cure.
Question 6 of 9
What contributed to the halt of the Polio Eradication Campaign in Nigeria in 2003?
  • A. A lack of funding from Western governments.
  • B. Suspicions that the campaign was a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children or infect them with HIV.
  • C. A scientific study linking the polio vaccine to narcolepsy.
  • D. A massive outbreak of measles that diverted medical resources.
Question 7 of 9
According to anthropologist Emily Martin, how might the use of war metaphors to describe the immune system affect certain parents?
  • A. It makes them more likely to vaccinate because they want to 'arm' their children.
  • B. It puts off privileged, college-educated mothers who are averse to violent and combative imagery.
  • C. It confuses parents who lack a scientific background, leading to widespread vaccine hesitancy.
  • D. It reassures parents that the vaccine will aggressively destroy any invading viruses.
Question 8 of 9
How does the author explain the concept of herd immunity?
  • A. By comparing it to a democratic election where individual choices add up to determine the state of the whole community.
  • B. By likening it to a military fortress where the strongest soldiers protect the weak.
  • C. By describing it as an ecosystem that balances out chemical disruptions over time.
  • D. By comparing it to a financial insurance policy where everyone pays a small premium.
Question 9 of 9
What is the book's conclusion regarding the risks of vaccination compared to the risks of infection?
  • A. The risks are roughly equal, making vaccination a matter of personal preference.
  • B. Vaccinations carry higher short-term risks but lower long-term risks than infections.
  • C. Infections are generally harmless natural processes, while vaccines carry significant neurological risks.
  • D. The severe risks of infections vastly outweigh the moderate risks of vaccination.

On Immunity — Full Chapter Overview

On Immunity Summary & Overview

Being afraid that vaccinating our children creates more harm than good isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s a fear informed by numerous cultural narratives. On Immunity looks at the different historical myths and metaphors in the vaccination debate, and presents statistics on vaccination’s effects.

Who Should Listen to On Immunity?

  • Parents who are unsure whether or not to vaccinate their child
  • Anyone who is interested in the cultural history of vaccination
  • Anyone who’s heard Jenny McCarthy say that vaccinations are dangerous

About the Author: Eula Biss

Eula Biss is a non-fiction writer. She has won various awards such as the Rona Jaffe Writers' Award, the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize, and the Pushcart Prize. She is a fellow of the National Endowment of the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation.

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