You would think governments and individuals would make vaccinating citizens against harmful diseases a high priority. But this video, based off a map created by the Council on Foreign Relations, shows that this isn’t always the case—and as a result, whooping cough, measles, and polio have returned in epidemic proportions in some areas.
Why do people shun vaccines for life-threatening diseases? The reasons are heartbreaking and confounding.
In Pakistan, polio vaccination workers have been attacked and killed by members of the Taliban, who distrust the Western countries involved in providing the vaccine—leaving large numbers of people unvaccinated. Consequently, this year Pakistan reported 202 polio cases so far.
Meanwhile, in middle-class communities across the U.S., most notably California, parents who believe vaccines are unsafe are refusing to get their babies and toddlers vaccinated against whooping cough, measles, and mumps. For instance, in 2010, there were 12,000 cases of whooping cough reported worldwide, with 5,000 in California alone. According to a report released by the California Department of Public Health this fall, that number had risen to nearly 8,000 cases for the year.
A confluence of the same fears held by some American parents, religious objections, and weak medical infrastructures has also hampered vaccination efforts and contributed to a measles outbreak that swept South Africa and Central Africa between 2009 and 2013. The disease is highly contagious and can prove fatal to young children.
Laurie Garrett, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and the map’s creator, has tracked epidemic outbreaks of preventable diseases from 2008 with data from news and public health reports. Her map is a global picture of people who are at risk, and also where education about the value of vaccinations is sorely needed.
Garrett has written that ignorance about the importance of vaccines is deadly, and many doctors concur.
“I see the devastating effects of these infections which are vaccine-preventable,” says Dr. Jeffrey Bender, medical director in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
“The most frustrating part for me is in talking to these families after their child becomes severely ill,” he says. “I have to tell them that ‘yes your child’s illness probably could have been prevented.’ This is the hardest thing for young parents to hear. All of them tell me that they did not think it could happen to their child. But it does happen.”
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.