For our class we are discussing public health issues that effect child development. The topic that I chose to cover is immunization. I chose this topic because since I am an educator, the children that I work with have or will have vaccines. Immunization also seems to be a debated topic as to whether it is helpful for children to be vaccinated or not. I find the debate interesting and I would like to know more as to why more and more parents are choosing to not have their children vaccinated.
According to the World Health Organization, immunization "is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease" (2014). There are many vaccines for many different diseases that were more than likely once epidemics. For example, chicken pox use to be a death causing disease that caused hundreds of deaths per year in the United States now there are no deaths and far fewer people get chicken pox. While many disease have become preventable through vaccines there are still other diseases that professionals have yet to find a vaccine for, such as AIDS (Berger, 2012). Certain vaccines are given at particular ages, many in the early childhood years. A lot of families are concerned about the potential side effects that vaccines may have. Some families are concerned that their child will be greatly uncomfortable with the vaccine and that they child may end up getting sick anyway. A potential side effects that is common with vaccines is a mild fever and some discomfort for a few days. Because of these side effects missed vaccinations have risen in the past decade (Berger, 2012).This causes a great concern for public health professionals since they feel that having side effects from a vaccine is a better issue then having an epidemic. The World Health Organization continuously shares their research as to why vaccination is important. They have an interesting Q&A section which can be found here: http://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/. They cover many of the questions that a concerned parent may ask.
Immunization across the world is different in many different countries. Some countries, such as African countries, do not have access to many immunizations. Many infants and children in Africa die before their fifth birthday because there is a lack of access to immunizations for many preventable diseases. While there are great efforts by WHO and UNICEF, there are still a lot of infants and children that are being missed and not getting vaccines. Low and middles income countries are receiving help from these organizations and many diseases such as measles and polio are seeing a great decrease in numbers. We can see these great efforts being taken but it will take a lot more to eradicate the many other diseases that effects Africa.
I think that finding this information was very helpful to me and my opinions in immunization in infants and young children. I was able to see why parents and families are wary of vaccines and their potential side effects and the good that vaccines do and why public health professionals are trying to get information out and educate people to get vaccinated. I think this will help me in my future work because I was able to gather resources that I could share with families in my classroom.
I think that finding this information was very helpful to me and my opinions in immunization in infants and young children. I was able to see why parents and families are wary of vaccines and their potential side effects and the good that vaccines do and why public health professionals are trying to get information out and educate people to get vaccinated. I think this will help me in my future work because I was able to gather resources that I could share with families in my classroom.
Resources
Berger, K.S. (2012). The developing person through childhood. (6th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
World Health Organization. (2014). "An evaluation of infant immunization in africa: is a transformation in progress?" Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/6/06-031526/en/.
World Health Organization. (2014). "What are some of the myths-and facts-about vaccination?" Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/.
There has been much controversy throughout the years as to whether or not to vaccinate children in the U.S. because of the possible side effects. In the news in the past month have been articles about a measles outbreak in New York city and how people are blaming the "anti-vaccine" people and there is also an article about how a Hollywood star is not and will not vaccinate her children because vaccines can cause autism. There needs to more information and research completed to verify the side effects of vaccines and the internet "rumor-mill" needs to distribute only the verified information. This will never happen but we can hope.
ReplyDeleteThat is really sad about African children. I was never afraid of vaccinating my children, and they all turned out just fine, but I have heard horrible stories of children who were fine before their shots, and not so fine after. It is scary and a big decision to make. I outweighed the good with the bad and chose to vaccinate!
ReplyDeleteIn Terre Haute Indiana we currently had an outbreak of the mumps. It was a college age student that was the "zero ground patient". I feel that there are so many people that are scared to get the truth. I wanted to say thanks for putting that website in your blog. Actually the other day my daughters friend who is pregnant asked to speak to me about vaccines. She has been told by many members of her family NOT to vaccinate and was confused as what to do or not. I will pass that website on to her. Just sitting here wondering how many mothers of African children who have died would have given anything to have them vaccinated. ??? Makes you wonder.
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