Leave a comment, save a child. Yes, it’s that simple.
by julie on August 20, 2012
Edited to add: Thank you all so much. I’m overwhelmed by the response here. This campaign continues through August 31, and all comments through that date count for a $20 donation, so please keep commenting!
–
Little known fact: My undergrad degree is in Environmental Health Sciences, including coursework in Food Microbiology, Human Parasitology, and Epidemiology and Immunology. I sketched dust mites and mosquitoes, grew Petri dishes of C. botulinum, and spent a semester at the county public health department, while interning between classes at an 8(a) minority-owned environmental consulting firm, taking samples for lab analysis and helping organize a Clean Air Act compliance effort at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Then the Air Force decided I ought to work at the Pentagon, and I haven’t done a lick of environmental or public health work since.
But my interest in the topic remains, and that’s one reason why I’m so thrilled to be part of the Shot@Life Blogust: Blog Relay for Good. Shot@Life is a United Nations Foundation initiative that promotes vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries.
We face many public health challenges in the United States, but they pale in comparison to those of other countries around the world — particularly countries without effective leadership or infrastructure to ensure basic public health care needs are met for their citizens.
I recently read Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa. It’s an in-depth study of the political, economic, and social factors that have troubled Africa for decades, but most recently in the last 15 years with the genocide in Rwanda and the movement of refugees across the Congo. It’s a complicated and tragic history in which the UN and non-profit groups such as Doctors Without Borders have worked to address public health issues, particularly in the refugee camps.
The political entanglements and related human rights violations cannot be solved with mere foreign aid, but we can help give more kids a fighting chance by vaccinating them. Perhaps we unconsciously minimize the role of vaccines in public health because they have become a given for us. We no longer see vaccines as the immense weapon against disease that they truly are. Instead we focus on all the problems that are beyond our reach as individuals, perhaps even beyond our reach as a nation.
We can choose to feel helpless in the face of monumental problems in developing countries, or we can do something seemingly small, yet ultimately significant.
I opened comments because of this effort. Now I’m asking you to comment. Because each comment equals a $20 donation to vaccinate a child in a developing country against measles, polio, pneumonia and meningitis caused by pneumococcal bacteria, and diarrhea caused by rotavirus. $20 for four vaccines.
To be clear, all you have to do is leave a thoughtful comment. You don’t have to donate anything except your words. The United Nations Foundation and their donors will do the rest.
–
I accepted the blog relay baton from Ilina Ewen, and I’m passing it to Gina Carroll tomorrow. There’s 31 of us posting this month, and you can leave a comment on every single post — each one means $20 to vaccinate a child.
Learn more about Shot@Life by joining their email list, following them on Twitter, or liking them on Facebook.
You constantly amaze me. Human Parasitology? How did I not know this? Now I know who to come to when I need an arbiter on the 5 second rule.
Thanks for being a part of this important effort Jule.
I do believe she can also help me figure out which of my finds are friendly because of my giant bank account. Julie – Which of my friends are parasites?!
Can’t think of much to say here… Accept that you sound like a freakin awesome human!! Sweet!
I just read A Long Walk to Water with my 7 and 9 year old sons. Not a light topic but outstanding story that hits home the value of what we are doing.
To all the Doctors + Nurses.
Giving their time + expertise
To help these poor helpless
Children. That need all the help +
Love we can all give.
Always in our hearts + minds
Everyday of our lives
From my children. Tracey USA
Simon. UK +
Claire. Israel My Grandchildren. Dean
Dylan. Kelsey Noi + Alessia
Patricia Lewis. London. UK
Happy to comment for such a great cause; now I am off to explore your blog.
I want to hear more about growing things in a petri dish.
I love learning new things about longtime online friends. Also, must use the word “human parasitology” at least once today. I have 4 kids (3 of them teenagers) shouldn’t be all that difficult, really.
I am very blessed to have healthy children and applaud your efforts to help others be able to say the same. Thank you, Julie!
Thank you for being a part of this, Julie! I’m thrilled beyond words to be able to leave a comment here — and then to have it be worth $20? Incredible!
JEAH!
{Ha, okay, I just had to do it since YOUR COMMENTS ARE OPEN WHEEE!}
I love being able to leave you a comment, and I love that you’re part of this!
I am half way through Damed Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid — and it sounds like the issues it covers are similar. So tough, but I am glad I know a tiny bit more about how the world is functioning because there are no solutions without awareness. Thank you for being part of creating that awareness and for opening up your comments just for this special project.
It´s so great to be able to help children by just commenting and using our words as currency.
I knew I enjoyed the perspective you give- not just a fellow 303er but also a micro background!
thanks for the insight and thanks for doing this!
I loved reading your story and hearing why this cause is so important to you. Thank you for giving me a chance to comment on your blog and support the Shot At Life campaign.
I love knowing this about your background! I, too, have done little with my Human Biology degree except tend to the petri dish that is my household! And you are so right, the big, overwhelming issues both in our own country and abroad can be incapacitating when you try to wrap your head around them. But when you take Mother Teresa’s approach and save the world one person-in-need at a time, then you can find the strength to move! So glad to be sharing this effort with you!
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as human parasitology, and now I’m scared!
I hope that because of my comment and those of others, though, a mother somewhere won’t have to be scared — she’ll know her baby is safe because of the vaccinations provided by Shot at Life. So thank you!!
Wow! Dancing in the Glory of Monsters sounds fascinating… almost as fascinating as your major in college. I’ve lived in third-world countries where discussions on parasites was a common topic. I wish we would have had you around as our resident expert. Either way, you continue to amaze me!
And so does this campaign. Thanks for being a part of it and giving children a shot at life!
xoxo
Wow, Julie, how very cool! You amaze me at every turn!
Dancing in the Glory of Monsters looks so good – I just ordered it on Amazon and really appreciate the recommendation.
Thank you for being a part of #Blogust and for your fabulous post today!!!!
Thanks for being a part of this awesome cause-I’ve learned about so many amazing bloggers this month and love the opportunity to do something good…just by leaving a comment!
Incidentally, I made the Asian Noodle Salad on Friday night for my extended family-always a hit!
wow, i would love to pick your brain now that i know your educational background.
It’s so true. vaccines are such an important public health measure that we do take them for granted and forget what a positive impact they made less than 100 years ago on our own country. When you think about it, it wasn’t that long ago in the scheme of things.
Just when I think you couldn’t get much more interesting, you bring up Human Parasitology! My inner comedian/smartass first interpreted that course name as a study of those guys that permanently couch surf and can’t hold down a job. Once the morning coffee kicked in and I could think again, I really would love to take that class.
This is my first comment on my new MacBook Air! Yay!
I’m sorry if that’s not substantive, but I need to get ready to go to my summer internship. I’m blessed, though, to be able to so easily make a positive difference in people’s lives as this campaign enables me to do.
These words will do the most work of any others that I will speak or write all day. Thank you.
Thanks for your post!
A needed and worthy effort I’m thankful to support.
I am so happy to be doing such good things with my time…
I think it’s noble that people like you are taking the initiative to push forward such a great program. There is a lot of inequality in the world, and there always will be, but little steps like this can lead to bigger steps later.
This is great. Thanks!
One person can make a difference because comments count. Sometimes it does seem so overwhelming and because of that we react by not acting-thinking that one person can’t change the world. But one person, one comment gives one child a shot at life, at fulfilling and achieving dreams, at growing up and making a difference! That’s awesome!
Who knew we both share a background in public health? That combined with a love of fitness too? We need to hang out more! Maybe you can convince me to do a tri. As a matter of fact a tri was going to be my first endurance event many years ago because I could’t imaging running long distance. So, a tri may be in my future.
I’m so happy to be part of this wonderful initiative with you!
Julie- I’m just curious why going to the Pentagon cured you of the environmental quest. There must be a story there!
Thank you for your support- it means the world.
Morra
Immunizations
Prevention, efficacy
Saving lives daily
I love that you bring up the use of vaccines as weapons. They are amazing, and if we invested in those as much as weapons of mass destruction, it seems we’d be a little closer to peace. Thanks for your post and for supporting this cause.
Thanks for an insightful article. Keep up all your good works!
I had no idea that parasitology was a thing, never mind that you were educated in it. Love discovering new things about my friends
xo to you lady – here’s to more lives being saved!
I really honestly thought I could not love you more. Now I have a bunson burner crush on you.
This might be my favorite shot at life post yet. Thank you for participating, for giving this intimate effort a global lens, and for generally rocking my socks off constantly.
glad to help
Thanks for a great read and more importantly thank you for being part of such a worthwhile effort.
I am grateful for this organization! We often take for granted that the vaccines we have available in the U. S., are equally available across the world and this is a sad UNtruth! See this list of deaths by country (just for pneumonia), www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/influenza-pneumonia/by-country/. I am hopeful by GAVI Alliance’s goal, “to introduce pneumococcal vaccinations to more than 40 countries by 2015. Once at full capacity, the program could save the lives of three to four million children over the next 10 years.” These kinds of efforts need support from us! We can help to make a wonderful difference in the world! Our organization, UCAN, Inc’s motto is, “YoU CAN Change the World; Together we Must!”
I am a former nurse from Mexico and I wish you will have the opportunity to do an internship there. Human Parasitology, epidemiology and immunology were classes that you were able to see and work with real cases everyday. Especially with children.In developing countries you see the effects and power of vaccines in action. How precious is for parents and children to get a simple shot. they wait long lines in a hot summer day, the walk 10-15 miles… and they are very grateful when they receive their vaccines. You are right and expressed so beautiful in your blog;” Perhaps we unconsciously minimize the role of vaccines in public health because they have become a given for us. We no longer see vaccines as the immense weapon against disease that they truly are.” Thank you for supporting the shot@Life campaign and for given voice to many mothers around the world.
What an amazing career! Love this project.
We really do take the vaccines for granted. It’s nice to be able to help someone out when it may mean life or death for them. It’s amazing what just a few seconds of your time can do.
It can be hard and heavy stuff, but that’s no excuse for us to turn away from it. Thanks for doing this.
I love that you aren’t only kick-arse fit and funny but you are whip smart too. My fantasies about you remain purr-fectly intact. Thanks for doing this. I love this campaign so much.
As a mother, I can only imagine not being able to get my children the vaccinations they need. This is such an awesome and simple way to help. Glad to be a part of it!
Wow, what a great campaign for a great cause! We’re happy to leave a comment! Keep doing what you’re doing!
Great campaign, keep up the good work
I’m so happy when bloggers can do good and serve as activists by collecting the power of positive-thinking readers. Go forth and vaccinate!
Yay for vaccines so kids have a chance at a healthy life! Thanks!
Hi, extremely interesting. I wasn’t aware of all this. Thanks for doing this.
Yay! Science gals unite! Thank you for being part of this program. XOXO
Scary that there’s a degree in human parasitology because that means there are SO MANY HUMAN PARASITES. Ugh. Let’s get some kids some medicine to fight off the yuck!
Thanks for helping raise money for vaccines for kids!
Awesome! Thanks for calling attention to this fantastic cause.
Love to help save a life, Shot@Life is amazing!
Great post, and great to get to know you Julie.
Words=Action.
Though there are vaccines that give me pause, the need for the basic preventatives should be available.
Thanks for doing this.
Such an amazing idea. Thanks for