Immunization and Public Health Measures

Immunization is said to have had the greatest impact on human mortality reduction and population growth than any other public health intervention aside from clean water.  Immunization protects children from not only temporary sickness but also from complications that arise from disease such as deafness, blindness, sterility or meningitis. Each vaccinated child creates what is called herd immunity because they stop the spread of disease thus protecting others (Berger, 2012)

We must be aware that as our world becomes more connected, diseases know no boundaries and we are putting ourselves and generations to come at risk for widespread disease.

Unfortunately, immunizations cannot yet protect us from AIDS, cholera, malaria, typhoid or shingles and the growing number of missed vaccines because of anxieties can result in reoccurrence of diseases once thought to be under control.  One study also showed that the mortality rate is higher among babies who received 6-8 vaccines in a single doctor visit as opposed to spreading them out. Needless to say, this has had an impact not only on the US but other countries as well. In the mid 1970s, Japan stopped administering the Pertussis (or whooping cough) vaccination because of public concerns over adverse neurological effects. At that point, Japan had brought the disease under control after introducing it in 1947. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease and one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths worldwide, causing 300 000 deaths a year, predominantly among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated infants, who go on to suffer vomiting, dehydration and malnutrition. Also, France still has low rates of hepatitis B vaccinations compared with other countries in Europe because it has been rumored that it has been associated with autism, multiple sclerosis and leukemia.

 

This issue is especially meaningful to me because I collaborate with mostly special needs children and families and many of them do not vaccinate their children because they are convinced the vaccinations caused the disability to their child.  I, personally am torn because I have heard the detailed events that occurred to each of these children and I cannot concur with nor negate any possibilities one way or another.  I can only advise my parents of the risks they expose their child to in a public setting when an outbreak occurs that they are not vaccinated for and pray the child does not get sick.  There is so much corruption and secrecy within our country that it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that once again, they are using us as guinea pigs unknowingly.  That’s the conspiracy theorist in me!! Bottom line is that vaccine anxieties impede highly effective public health measures.

References

Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY:       Worth Publishers.

http://www2.aap.org/international/immunization/importance.html

http://thinktwice.com/goldman-miller-study.html

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/6/08-030608/en/