A start-up says that the tissues used are safer than vaccines. Should you rely on it? | Gene markings | Business

TWe have recently been drawing a lot of attention on anti-vaxxers, people who – for religious or other reasons – are not vaccinated against certain diseases or the flu. Opponents believe that this practice poses a risk of harm to themselves and their children, but also puts the general public at risk.

But now, a startup claims to have an unusual solution to this problem: used fabrics.

Yes, you read it well. Vaev Tissue, a small company that could be based in Los Angeles (or maybe Copenhagen?) And who may or may not have eight employees (the details are unclear), says that she sells fabrics that, they say, have already been infected by his team of professional sneezers. The company estimates that using only one fabric – at a reasonable price of $ 79.99 – already wearing a human sneeze is actually safer than needles, pills or any other scientific product.

It's a "freedom" and a "luxury to choose," said Oliver Niessen, the company's elusive founder, 34, who reluctantly revealed his name to Time. "The simple idea is that you now choose to get sick, thinking that you will not be sick of the same cold … later."

Here's how it works: you wipe your nose with a tissue from Vaev. Infected materials on the tissue then infect you. You have a cold – hopefully not too bad. You drink a lot of fluids and you rest. The cold is going away. Then you go on holiday or business trip without fear of no more cold. Simple!

Niessen says the company has already sold a thousand paper tissues and its customers are mostly young parents and people in their twenties who are skeptical about vaccines and "looking for alternatives" . And all the while, I thought that the millennial generation was smarter than my generation. That's the theory.

So it works? According to the Time report: no.

"There are more than 200 types of rhinovirus, so you need to put about 200 tissues in your nose to get a different one," said Charles Gerbea, a professor of microbiology and environmental science at the University of Ottawa. University of Arizona. I said. "The inoculation of one person does not protect you against all others. How is a vaccine made against 200 different viruses?

So, why is Vaev still active? In studying entrepreneurship, I learned one thing: there is still a market for zany products, even if it is a niche and if a company is as inaccurate as it is.

I say fragmentary because I have serious doubts about the fact that Vaev is really a business. And even if you still want to deposit $ 80 on a used tissue, you can not. They are "sold," according to the company's website. Niessen says the problem is due to "supply chain problems". But do not worry, according to Time, the company is restocking its product as soon as its sneezing will allow it to be made. So there should be a lot of tissues on sale soon! Or not.