A possible concise summary is:
The text is a transcript of a segment from the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, where he talks about the myths and facts about vaccines. He argues that vaccines are safe, effective and necessary, and that the fears and doubts that some people have are based on misinformation, false claims and emotional appeals. He uses humor, sarcasm and personal anecdotes to debunk the common anti-vaccine arguments, such as the link between vaccines and autism, the dangers of thimerosal, the overload of antigens and the alternative vaccine schedules. He also shows the benefits of herd immunity and the risks of measles outbreaks. He urges parents to trust the scientific evidence and vaccinate their children fully on schedule.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and are considered one of humanity's greatest accomplishments.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk discovered a vaccine that promised to wipe out polio.
3. The polio vaccine was a cause for huge celebration in the past, with parents lining up to get their children vaccinated.
4. Some parents today are skeptical and vocal about vaccines, despite the overwhelming evidence of their safety and effectiveness.
5. The President of the United States has expressed concerns about vaccines, including the idea that children are receiving too many shots at once.
6. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has led a crusade against thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines.
7. Thimerosal has been removed from all vaccines recommended for infants, except for flu vaccines.
8. Studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism.
9. The CDC says that spreading shots out puts children at risk of developing diseases during the time that shots are delayed.
10. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, including death.
11. Herd immunity is the concept whereby the more people who are vaccinated, the harder it is for a disease to spread.
12. The herd immunity threshold for measles is around 95%.
13. When vaccination rates drop, outbreaks of measles can occur, as seen in France in 2007.
14. Children with weakened immune systems, such as those with leukemia, rely on herd immunity to protect them from serious diseases.
15. Vaccines have been responsible for the elimination of many major epidemics in the industrialized world.
16. The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks, with serious side effects being extremely rare (close to 1 in 1 million).