A Strong Fence

For as long as people have had the power of language, they’ve used that power to disagree about ideas. The information age has accelerated these disagreements into a frenetic, full-scale war. Nowhere is this more painfully obvious than with the question of immunisations, with many people choosing to immediately trust the researched-backed viewpoint of the vast majority of medical professionals (who’ve spent their lives studying molecular biology and the like), and others who take a bit more convincing. 

While we do understand the importance of “doing your own research,” we believe our research time is best spent on the best-informed sources, so we’ll be able to make the best-informed decisions. And in the case of Covid, we believe the problem is urgent enough that the best course of action is to trust the medical establishment.

But what if your understanding of the risks and benefits of vaccines is limited not by a social media company’s engagement-driven algorithm, but by the fact that there just isn’t any good immunisation information available in the language you best speak and understand?

For minority language groups all around the world, this is still the case… Which is why we’re excited to share this new book on immunisations, created by SIL International (with illustrations paid for by donations to SIL LEAD) and now featured in the Bloom library.

The book, entitled A Family Learns about Immunisations, tells of how a community health worker visits a village and explains to a mother how immunisations will protect her children from some kinds of diseases. It’s lighthearted and engaging, and told in a manner that will engage well with its intended audience. As with all Bloom books, A Family Learns about Immunisations can be quickly adapted into any language and made available for print or as an ebook. It can also be adapted for sign language or as a talking book for the visually impaired.

There are millions of people around the world who, because of the fact of their situation, don’t have access to even the most basic medical information. This book will play a small part in meeting that need, and we’re grateful to have played a part in making it available.

As the story says, vaccines are like a strong fence you build around your garden, so that healthy growing can happen inside. Vaccines save lives – and that’s an idea worth spreading.