‘Anti-vaccination’ movement a growing danger: Expert

THE ‘anti-vaccination’ movement is a growing danger, a leading expert has warned at a science event held at a London school earlier this month.

The immunology professor and head of the centre for clinical pharmacology at University College London Derek Gilroy was speaking on the topic ‘Human Body’ as an invited guest at the John Lyon second annual lecture series, Talks-on-the-Hill, at the Boyd Campbell Hall on February 6.

Prof Gilroy elaborated on vaccines and how they work to combat viruses in human bodies. He also answered questions from the audience related to coronavirus and remedies to illnesses.

All residents of Harrow-on-the-Hill in north west London were invited to hear pupils, a teacher and invited experts on the topic.

Renowned artist Jane McAdam Freud was the keynote speaker.

Using images of her works, which all focus on the body in a variety of ways, Jane described how she compares the space of the body with the space in the studio and how her work is constantly moving and evolving.

Upper Sixth student Shaurya Garkhel was the host for the event while year 7 pupil Harjeevan Bains was the first presenter. He introduced the audience to the human brain, explaining its various functions.

“I initially found it to be quite daunting. I built up my confidence by researching the topics and got lots of encouragement from my teachers,” Harjeevan later said about the experience.

Biology teacher Edward Mendelblat focused on what parts of the human body serve no purpose. He explored vestigial structures lost to evolution such as the tail, and bodily parts and functions we retain for no discernible use, such as wisdom teeth and goosebumps.

Year 7 pupils Madisan Nimalathasan and Rafay Raja opened the second part of the evening with a look at how our environment affects our body.

“Delivering the talk was the hardest part, as my heart was not pounding, but aching, as I did not want to mess up in front of the school and the public. What helped me to get through is the knowledge that if I have seen other people my age do it, why can’t I do it?,” said Nimalathasan.

Raja called the Talks-on-the-Hill a "great experience". It made my confidence grow and my public speaking strength better, he added.

A-level biology, chemistry and mathematics student Rayyan Hussain, looked into the little-regraded world of natural remedies and asked if they could be the solution to a healthy body, and especially advantageous owing to the increase in resistance to antibiotics.