A man came to Rav Elyashiv ZT”L complaining about his wife. After listen8by to the man’s diatribe (which consisted of petty complaints), Rev Elyashiv said, “It seems to me that your life is too good.” As he left (no doubt upset that Rav Elyashiv didn’t understand him), our hero fell and broke his leg, requiring surgery and a hospital stay. Of course, he learned then just how grateful he should be for his wife’s devotion.
I don’t want to say that we are too healthy, but let’s just put aside the rhetoric and contemplate a world without vaccines.
Of course there are side effects and risks, but for most people these are insignificant relative to the benefits.
In short, this is a stupid debate.
As an aside, few people care as deeply for children as Dr. Shanik, and none care for as many. The antivaxxer movement is perhaps the only issue which can get him visibly upset.
Do you doubt his motivation to encourage vaccination?