Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

bolonomadic t1_ir4ubnb wrote

−15

Propyl_People_Ether t1_ir4vo8g wrote

That's kind of a silly comment. Immune systems are complicated and there are many, many different types of cells and messenger molecules involved.

Obviously, increasing this specific kind of molecule (cytokines) isn't great. But "immune system" is a vague phrase like "home security".

You could say "So much for wanting to boost your home security" on, say, a gun fatality. But in actuality there are many types of home security that don't involve weapons. An alarm system, a camera, a dog or a fence can all increase your security without physical violence.

Similarly, immunological memory/antigen recognition is one of the first line defenses we have in our bodies, and it's good to have those first-line defenses well honed.

Whereas cytokines such as IL-6 are more like guns; once there are too many going off in one place, whatever you were hoping to prevent from happening probably already has.

18

Envect t1_ir4w6d8 wrote

You know they were talking about anti-vaxxers, right?

4

Propyl_People_Ether t1_ir4xm35 wrote

They may have been, but a lot of the things anti-vaxxers repeat are things that start as oversimplification into inaccuracy.

In order to fight this form of disinformation, we must also avoid feeding it new and different inaccuracies.

19