Immunization is an important requirement for every baby. This is usually done to enhance the ability of their bodies to fight diseases. Immediately a child is born, the mother is required to take them for regular medical checkups that are aimed at ensuring that they are growing normally. Vaccinations are usually given at a certain stage which is mostly between when they are three months and two years old (Lagrange, p. 64). Immunizations are not usually comfortable for the baby considering how they are administered. Most of them are usually given through injections which make the baby feel some pain. Other associated discomforts may arise due to the vaccines.
The shots
Immunization shots have been recorded to have certain side effects some of which may be severe and others mild. The mild shots need not cause an alarm as they are normally due to the changes happening in the body of the baby. However, there are other severe cases where the mothers need to seek urgent medical advice to prevent any complications (Ramey, p. 58). As much as vaccinations come with certain side effects, it does not necessarily mean that they are harmful and hence to be avoided. Side effects do not occur to all babies and infants. It mainly depends on how the vaccinations are given and the ability of the babies to handle them. Vaccines may be given by any health care officer that knows the same. Just as many other health care officials may make mistakes, certain mistakes may be done when administering vaccines to children. This may make the children develop complications that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
There are also several cases where certain vaccines that have worked for a certain region have not worked for another. Vaccines usually differ from country to country due to the climatic conditions that are recorded in the area. What may hence be dangerous for infants in America may not be the same for infants in Europe. Vaccines may not be the same even if they are used to prevent a specific illness. For instance, vaccines that are used to treat measles and polio differ in every nation. This is basically due to the varying forms and shapes that the vaccines take (Lagrange, p. 102). When they are exported to another nation for the same use, they may prove dangerous to the users. It is hence advisable that before a vaccine used in another country is considered for use in another, it is to go through certain tests to prove their safety.
Conclusion
Immunization shots have been used for ages to protect infants from certain ailments that may be difficult to treat when they are adults. Vaccines are not treatments but rather preventive precautions that will protect an individual from any such possible future attacks. Vaccines do not hence guarantee that the immunized child will not suffer from the disease. Certain other complications may be associated with the vaccines that may affect the health of the baby (Ramey, p. 84). Vaccines are administered by injecting the antibodies of the disease to be prevented into the systems of the person. The antibodies are meant to take charge and repel any similar antibodies from attacking the body and thus leaving the individual safe. After the vaccines, the individual is required to go for checkups just to ensure that they were administered appropriately.
Works cited
Lagrange, Sarah. Vaccine issues. London: Nova Publishers, 2004.
Ramey, Meri. Babies Guide to Parents (and Other Important People). New York: Babies’ Guide to Parents, 2009.
Because of the anti-vaccination campaign spread in social media, more Americans refuse injections for personal reasons. In 2019, at least 20 states presented laws expanding immunization exemptions. Vaccination is mandatory only in five states – New York, Maine, California, West Virginia, and Mississippi (Lou & Griggs, 2019). The rest allow exemptions due to religious or personal beliefs. Although some Americans deny the danger of infectious diseases, in the past few years, there have been several outbreaks that took the lives of hundreds of people. It is necessary to inform the population in paediatrics rooms and in the media to change the attitude of citizens towards vaccination.
Future changes may include the introduction of mandatory vaccination throughout the US, regardless of personal or religious beliefs. For these purposes, it will be useful to establish collaboration with medical institutions, and with celebrities who care about the health of US citizens.
Immunization Campaign
Because of the spread of false formation in social media, more Americans refuse immunization. It leads to an increase in the incidence rate of preventable infectious diseases and a weakening of the nation’s immunity. Over the past few years, outbreaks of measles, mumps, hepatitis A and acute flaccid myelitis have occurred in the country. Refusal from immunization may occur because people do not recognize the severity of the symptoms and complications caused by diseases, and assume vaccination has a negative effect.
Preventable Diseases Outbreaks in the US
Since the main reason for refusing immunization is the spread of misinformation, the following is a list of preventable infectious disease outbreaks in the US in 2018-2020. The bellow news bulletin shows that the problem is urgent, as epidemics of infections lead to deaths, including among children. This information should be conveyed to opponents of immunization since the outbreaks of diseases occur due to their unreasonable decisions.
In 2019, an outbreak of measles was registered in the US. In particular, from 1 January to 5 September 2019, 1,241 cases of infection were detected in 31 states (Hauck, 2019). The most significant number of incidents happened in New York City, in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods; investigators and doctors assume that the infection spread from abroad. Before the measles vaccine appeared in 1963, the disease claimed 2.6 million lives annually (Hauck, 2019). According to WHO, 110,000 people worldwide died from measles in 2017 (Hauck, 2019). Thus, the above numbers provide evidence for why the immunization campaign should be held without delay.
Later in 2019, the whole country was following the news about the mumps outbreak, after 2,000 cases were recorded throughout the US in 2018. By 29 March 2019, there were 426 cases of the disease, 106 cases were among students and residents of the Temple University area, Pennsylvania (Goldschmidt, 2019a). By 26 April, this figure had risen to 736 cases in 41 states and the District of Columbia (Goldschmidt, 2019b). Further, in February 2020, an infection broke out at a ski resort in Colorado, with 26 cases recorded (“Mumps outbreak rises to 26 cases,” 2020). A vaccine called MMR against measles, mumps, and rubella successfully prevents these infectious diseases.
Furthermore, in 2018, the hepatitis A outbreak was reported among unlucky visitors of the grocery store in New Jersey. This infection is often referred to as the ‘dirty hands’ disease, as it can be prevented by washing hands. By November 2019, the number of cases had mounted to 504 people (Schumaker, 2019). Earlier, in 2016, the country was affected by the hepatitis A epidemic, with 27,634 cases of infection in 30 states (Schumaker, 2019). As a result of the outbreak, 275 people died from the disease (Schumaker, 2019). Most cases of infection came from marginalized groups such as homeless people and people who use drugs intravenously.
Finally, the saddest and most impressive was the polio-like virus epidemic, named acute flaccid myelitis. Doctors note that the virus infects the spinal cord and causes temporary or permanent paralysis in young children (Rahhal, 2018). For some reason, the infectious disease rolled in waves and receded. In 2014, 120 cases were recorded in 34 states, in 2016, 149 people were affected, and in 2018, 186 confirmed cases were reported (Rahhal, 2018). Notably, the outbreaks coincided with a viral respiratory infection, EV-D68, caused by a bug (Rahhal, 2018). Therefore, in 2020, medical practitioners are preparing for a new outbreak of the disease. The CDC has not developed a vaccine or a cure for the disease yet.
Symptoms and Complications
The problem of refusing immunization is critical since not only particular people but the whole nation is at risk. Infection can only be prevented from spreading if the majority of the population is immunized. Below, there is a list of the symptoms, complications, and epidemiology of preventable infectious diseases in which Americans refuse to vaccinate because of personal or religious beliefs. This information will later be included in booklets and posters supporting the immunization campaign.
Measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis outbreaks were already registered in 2018, 2019, 2020. According to Török, Moran, and Cooke (2017), measles is “an acute, highly infectious disease of children, characterized by cough, coryza, fever, and rash, for which humans are the only natural host” (p. 384). It is endemic all over the world; without vaccination, epidemics lasting 3-4 months occur every 2-5 years (Török et al., 2017).
The infection is “airborne, spread by contact with respiratory secretions, and one of the most communicable of the infectious diseases” (Török et al., 2017, p. 385). Patients are spreading it most during the last phase of the disease, through intensive coughing. Neurologic complications may include primary measles encephalitis, acute post measles encephalitis (Patterson, 2020). Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), or measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE), which are lethal diseases, may also develop as a result of measles.
Mumps infection spreads among children and adolescents; its symptoms include swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. If a person becomes infected and falls ill in older age, more severe manifestations are possible (Török et al., 2017). Mumps infection is common throughout the world; before vaccination, epidemics took place every 2-5 years (Török et al., 2017). It is transmitted by droplet spread or direct contact and is most infectious just before it moves to the parotitis phase. Hospitalization and severe complications due to mumps were reduced after the use of the MMR vaccine (López-Perea et al., 2017).
Complications include meningitis in 1-10% of cases, encephalitis, and sensorineural deafness, especially in adults or babies (López-Perea et al., 2017). Such severe complications are very likely to ensure people make vaccinations.
Rubella is another infection that is spread all around the world. It is “an acute, mild viral infection of children and adults, resembling mild measles, but with the potential to cause fetal infection and birth defects” (Török et al., 2017, p. 389). Scientists note that “unlike measles, rubella is only moderately contagious; before vaccination, the incidence was highest in the spring amongst children aged 5-9 years” (Török et al., 2017, p. 389). Rubella is spread by droplets; those who are sick are most contagious when a rash appears.
Poliomyelitis is a spinal cord inflammation that causes paralysis; the term refers to gray matter, polio, and spinal cord inflammation, myelitis. Viruses from the enteroviruses group that because inflammation are spread by the fecal-oral route, and the incubation period lasts from 7 to 21 days (Wright, 2018). Clinical manifestations include “acute flaccid paralysis involving a single limb, quadriplegia, and-or respiratory failure” (Wright, 2018, p. 423). No cure for the disease has been found, so doctors mainly provide supportive therapy; complications include long-term severe neurologic effects. The solutions proposed below are aimed to support 99% immunization (Wright, 2018). It will help to mitigate the risk of infections and reduce the incidence and mortality of preventable infectious diseases among US citizens.
Information Campaign
It is proposed to develop posters for social media, online media platforms, and outdoor advertising. Moreover, it makes sense to raise the issue on national television and YouTube. In particular, videos about people who will tell their stories related to immunization will interest viewers. A Series of 15-30-minutes documentaries on the history of preventable infectious diseases will also draw the public’s attention. Besides, an information campaign will be organized on social media.
Moreover, a series of booklets will be developed with information on the spread, symptoms, and possible complications caused by infections. Leaflets will be distributed in health facilities throughout the country. It makes sense to start with the most vulnerable states, which can be negotiated by telephone with local health facilities, and then send booklets by mail. Cooperation with the relevant units of WHO, CDC, NHIL, Healthy People could also be established to help them implement the measures described as necessary in the reports of these organizations. The social media campaign will invite celebrities who support immunization to participate in the campaign.
Changes to Legislation
Immediate introduction of mandatory immunization into legislation, with exceptions solely for medical contraindications, will have the best effect. A preliminary public awareness campaign will support the changes to the legal system. Despite the recorded outbreaks of measles, mumps, hepatitis A and acute flaccid myelitis in 2018-2020 across the country, in 2019, more than 20 states have proposed new laws with more options for refusing immunization (Lou & Griggs, 2019). Thus, at the moment, in most states, the possibility of refusing vaccines for religious and personal reasons is legislatively fixed.
Costs
The cost of a public awareness campaign will be partially covered from the state budget, as 99%-immunization contributes to the health and well-being of all US citizens. Since informing implies solely intellectual contribution, the costs will not be high. Volunteers can cover part of the labor costs; the state is invited to pay for the work of journalists, as well as for advertising in city boxes and online media platforms. In the future, free vaccination in public places could be held, which will require the purchase of necessary medicines. Presumably, CDC could provide them, and volunteer medical practitioners will vaccinate all comers.
Conclusion
Thus, the latest cases of outbreaks and terrifying symptoms of preventable infectious diseases were described. The most depressing is the statistics on acute flaccid myelitis. The statistics on hepatitis A are also tragic, the infection of which can be prevented by just observing the rules of hygiene. The spread of mumps and measles, which are fraught with dangerous complications, is also impressive. Fortunately, these diseases can be prevented through timely immunization. It will be necessary to hold an information campaign in city hospitals, social networks, as well as in the media, to convince Americans to welcome immunization. The subsequent introduction of compulsory vaccination will solve the problem completely.
Hauck, G. (2019). The US in danger of losing measles-free status, a ‘mortifying’ effect of the anti-vax movement. USA TODAY. Web.
López-Perea, N., Masa-Calles, J., De Mier, M., Fernández-García, A., Echevarría, J., De Ory, F., & De Aragón, M. (2017). Shift within age-groups of mumps incidence, hospitalizations, and severe complications in a highly vaccinated population. Spain, 1998-2014. Vaccine, 35(34), 4339-4345.
The value of immunization for the well-being of people can be underestimated. When people are vaccinated, they are not able to spread the disease to other members of the community. In the case when people are not vaccinated, outbreaks may happen. Nowadays, people’s opinions toward immunization practices have changed. This essay dwells on the reasons behind caregivers’ decision to delay immunization or refuse it. It also considers the ways medical professionals should communicate with patients regarding this issue.
After birth, processes of rapid neurological and physical development begin. This development is influenced by the surrounding environment and related experiences (Santrock, 2019). Parents’ concern for a child’s comprehensive development has led to the emergence of a new term – “vaccine hesitancy” (McKee & Bohannon, 2016). The survey conducted to find out the rationale for the vaccinations delay or refusal determined four categories of reasons (McKee & Bohannon, 2016).
These categories are religious arguments, personal beliefs, safety concerns, and a lack of information provided by healthcare professionals (McKee & Bohannon, 2016). There is no doubt that people are free to rely on their personal or religious beliefs. Some caregivers support the idea of natural immunity or “prefer to not put extra chemicals into their children’s bodies” (Saada et al., 2015). However, there are external factors that have an impact on vaccination refusal.
In the age of open information, it is getting harder to find credible sources of data. Mass media tends to present contradictory opinions about health issues to the public. It has been proved that people interpret messages based on their existing experience and knowledge (Qian et al., 2020). This cognitive distortion is called confirmatory bias, which does not allow recipients to change their position (Qian et al., 2020). For instance, the controversy about the link between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism guided public opinion even when the case had been proved groundless (Qian et al., 2020). Therefore, the role of a medical professional is to present coherent information about the benefits and consequences of immunization to caregivers.
I am convinced that caregivers need to be educated sufficiently and act without prejudice. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have various resources to assist caregivers as well as vaccination professionals. Medical doctors should be prepared to talk to parents about vaccines for infants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). If parents express concern, you need to give strong recommendations in favor of vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).
According to CDC guidelines, caregivers have to be informed about potentially life-threatening diseases supported by real examples (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). I believe it is crucial to understand the reasoning behind every concern and react to them. Due to the abundance of information, parents seek to get answers to topical questions from an educated professional. When parents and doctors reach an agreement, vaccine information statements and schedules are made available to ensure transparency.
The continuation of the conservation is necessary when parents refuse to proceed with vaccination. Besides, they need to understand possible risks and responsibilities. However, every conversation is a step forward, no matter how long it might take. There is always an opportunity to schedule another appointment and continue working. An array of supporting materials, such as parent’s guides, factsheets, vaccination schedules, and tips for a less stressful shot visit make the process smoother.
McKee, C., & Bohannon, K. (2016). Exploring the reasons behind parental refusal of vaccines. Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 21(2), 104–109.
Qian, M., Chou, S.-Y., & Lai, E. K. (2020). Confirmatory bias in health decisions: Evidence from the MMR-autism controversy. Journal of Health Economics, 102284. Web.
Saada A., Lieu T., Morain, S., Zikmund-Fisher, B., & Wittenberg, E. (2015) Parents’ choices and rationales for alternative vaccination schedules: a qualitative study. Clinical Pediatrics, 54(3), 236–243.
Santrock, J. (2019). Life-span development (17th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Parents often fail to immunize their children due to various misconceptions about vaccines. Although the misconceptions are invalid, some parents are yet to believe in the health care officials. This paper discusses the common reasons for not vaccinating children, evidence-based counter arguments, and the risks of under-immunization.
Common reasons for not vaccinating children
Vaccines cause autism: Andrew Wakefield’s article elucidated that some vaccines increase the risk of developing autism. Since the article appeared in a prestigious medical journal, some parents have always believed that Wakefield’s argument was true, and they fail to take their children for immunizations for the fear of the autism condition.
Vaccines overwhelm infants’ immune systems: Some parents have nonprofessionals’ belief that children are too weak to handle the numerous vaccines administered to them before their bodies are strong enough. Some parents revoke the vaccines because children weep in pain, and they tend to be uncomfortable after obtaining vaccinations. They feel that the vaccines bring more harm than good, and children can do without vaccination.
Natural immunity outweighs vaccine-acquired immunity: Parents believe that children that heal after becoming sick develop a stronger immunity than those vaccinated against the disease. In any case, excellent hygiene and nutrition is a natural way that would work perfectly in eliminating infections amongst infants and teenagers. Therefore, natural immunity helps greatly in eliminating the allergic reactions from the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines.
Vaccines contain harmful toxins: Many people have always doubted the vaccines because of their toxic contents of formaldehyde, mercury, and aluminum. Apparently, the toxins are harmful to adults, and their harm to children might surpass that of the adults. Therefore, the toxic vaccines might have severe harm to the children in the end.
Vaccines trigger infections: In many cases, children develop symptoms of the disease that the vaccine ought to prevent once they obtain the vaccinations. Some parents doubt if the vaccines really work towards preventing the illness. They believe that the vaccines trigger the development of the disease.
Evidence-based counter arguments
Health officials took Andrew Wakefield’s hypothesis seriously, and they undertook several researches to find out the eligibility of the theory. However, the article was erroneous; it had serious ethical violations, and there was no correlation between vaccination and the probability of developing autism (Haviland, Elliott, Hambarsoomian, & Lurie, 2011). Wakefield lost his credibility as a medical practitioner, as autism develops even before a baby is born to receive vaccinations. Parents should know that the true cause of autism is unclear, as the symptoms of the condition are often evident in children before they receive the MMR vaccine.
The numerous antibodies in infants’ blood clearly dismiss the supposition that children have a weak immune system. The antibodies provide a strong immune system to the infants, who can receive about 10,000 vaccines without any harmful reaction. Moreover, parents ought to know that the cells in the immune system multiply constantly; therefore, there is no possibility of any vaccine overwhelming the immune system.
While natural immunity is indeed stronger than vaccine-acquired immunity, the risks associated with natural immunity are fatal. Measles, for example, is a deadly disease, and infected children have a probability of 0.2% of dying before acquiring the supposed natural immunity. It is also worth noting that cases of severe allergy due to MMR vaccines only occur to one in a million vaccinations administered to children. Evidently, introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 reduced measles-related deaths from 400,000 cases annually to less than 1000 cases currently (Haviland et al., 2011). It is noteworthy that the reduction in deaths was independent of the hygienic habits, as there was no major change in the sanitation or nutrition habits.
Although vaccines contain some traces of formaldehyde, mercury, and aluminum, the traces are minimal, and they can have no harm to the human body. In fact, highly trained personnel scrutinize the drugs before approving them as safe for human consumption. It is worth noting that the body produces the alleged toxic formaldehyde in its metabolic reactions. Therefore, the small traces of the chemicals in the vaccines are harmless to the human body. Moreover, no scientist has ever proved that the negligible traces of the three chemicals in question have ever harmed any human being, and instead, they are highly useful.
Indeed, the immune response to a vaccine can cause a child to develop symptoms similar to those of the disease under prevention. However, such cases are very few, and the entire scenario is an outdated misconception. The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) was the only vaccine that caused illnesses, and apparently, medical practitioners abolished the vaccine. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations are very strict, and all pharmaceutical companies adhere to the strict regulations.
Risks of under-immunization
Under-immunized children and teenagers are always at a great risk of catching preventable diseases whenever there is an outbreak. Under-immunized infants are vulnerable to infections like influenza, and their probability of dying is very high. Moreover, parents may underestimate the effects of simple illnesses like whooping cough, but the disease can cause permanent brain disorders for infants and teenagers.
Possibility of discrimination is yet another danger of under-immunizing children. Schools or childcare centers cannot risk the life of other children by enrolling under-immunized children into their programs. Parents and educators will always advice children to stay away from people with symptoms of contagious diseases like measles and chickenpox among others. The innocent children experience loneliness due to the mistakes of their parents.
In many cases, under-immunized children become a threat to the family, friends, and the entire community. Such children can easily transmit vaccine preventable diseases, and they are always a threat to babies that are yet to undertake all the immunizations. Moreover, the under-immunized children are always a threat to people with special medical conditions like leukemia, who cannot undergo the full immunization procedures due to medical reasons.
Some parents presume that some illnesses like measles are harmless to their children. However, the bitter truth is that measles is one of the fatal diseases that can attack an enormous number of under-immunized children. Most under-immunized children are unable to fight the disease, and their probability of dying or developing disabilities is always high.
Conclusion
From the discussions, it is evident that vaccines are imperative in the contemporary world. While infection rates are very low in the United States and other developed countries, it is important for every child to receive the vaccines, as international travels are on the rise. Vaccines are great pillars to combat fatal diseases like measles, rubella, polio, and small pox among others. Vaccinations have played a great role in preventing millions of deaths, and no parent should deny a child an opportunity to live.
References
Hansen, J. (2014). Pregnant women urged to get whooping cough vaccine following death of a baby twin who was not vaccinated. The Sunday Telegraph, p. 10.
Haviland, A., Elliott, M., Hambarsoomian, K., & Lurie, N. (2011). Immunization disparities by Hispanic ethnicity and language preference. Arch Int Med, 171(2), 158-165.
Kristof, N. (2014). Myanmar’s appalling apartheid. The New York Times, p. 35.
Mahoney, R. (2014). Why do we fear the blind? The New York Times, p. 8.
A quality mission statement communicates an organization’s unique purpose. It proclaims its goals, target population, and the foundations that underpin its actions. The mission of the PHA Strategy is to promote partnerships between Palestine’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and stakeholders in order to improve the effectiveness of medical care services. The mission also indicates what the strategy intends to achieve, which include the promotion of health governance, regulation, and policy formulation. In terms of scope, the PHA Strategy intends to improve the accessibility of quality health care services to people living in occupied Palestinian Territories (oPTs). Nevertheless, the mission statement does not indicate the fundamental premises or rationales for its strategic actions. It only indicates that it will promote accessibility, regulation, and governance within the health sector through partnerships, but does not indicate why that is necessary.
The strategy’s vision statement aptly describes the MoH’s future scope in terms of health care provision. It states that the ministry will create a care system that deals with health issues affecting Palestinians. It provides a clear roadmap that would guide the players in the health sector in developing ‘an integrated health system’ in Palestine. However, the strategic vision gives no clear rationale why the ministry should pursue this long-term direction. As grounds for implementing the strategy, the MoH should indicate whether the path would improve the health outcomes of Palestinians.
A statement of values guides an organization in pursuing its strategic vision. The MoH’s value statement describes pertinent principles and practices that would lead to improved health care delivery and accessibility in the oPTs. The four values address various aspects of Palestine’s public health that are compatible with the MoH’s vision statement. However, the statement of values is rather weak because it does not define the vulnerable groups, the nature of health care services, or the health promotion interventions needed in the oPTs. This will make it difficult to entrench these values into the ministry’s operating practices.
The Scope, Relevance, and Effectiveness of the ‘Road Map’
The roadmap for the development of the Palestinian 2011-2013 health strategy comprised of three phases: the current state (2009), the future (envisioned) position (2010), and the ways of achieving it. Phase 1 took place between March and July 2009 and it involved five action areas. These included a conference organized by the MoH, a review of Palestinian health articles published in the Lancet, an appraisal of relevant data, an assessment of MoH’s progress and achievements, and the creation of a database of all donors and stakeholders. Stakeholders from “NGOs, academia, the private sector, and unions” (PNA 2010, Para. 8) attended the MoH conference while the literature review involved academic articles reporting studies (WHO) conducted in Palestine and the UK.
On the other hand, the review of relevant medical data and donor enumeration involved local implementers and MoH internal staff under the auspices of the Health Policy and Planning General Directorate (HPPGD). In this phase, the roadmap addressed the issue of stakeholder participation and engagement to enhance the understanding of the target population’s health needs. The data gathered ensured that the PHS strategy is anchored on accurate empirical evidence. The views of the health professionals, academics, and union representatives who have hands-on experience on the Palestinian public health matters further corroborated the research evidence. It is evident that the engagement involved concerted efforts from both private and public agencies and thus, it was comprehensive in scope. In the oPT zones, donors and private providers play a crucial role in health care expansion in remote areas that may be underserved by the MoH. They identify the underlying weaknesses in the current health system and devise ways of improving accessibility. Therefore, their input was invaluable in the formulation of the PHA Strategy. Moreover, approaches and tools used in this roadmap enhanced inclusivity and could potentially lead to an evidence-based health system. However, public participation, which gives an accurate and authentic portrayal of the current state of health, was not used in formulating the strategy.
The second phase of the roadmap outlined the MoH’s envisioned position in 2010. The roadmap specified five key areas that needed to be addressed during this phase. During this phase, a National Health Strategy (2011-2013) was disseminated to the National Council for Health Policy and Planning (NCHPP), the MoH officials, and Thematic Group leaders between October and November 2010 (PNA 2010). Based on their feedback, the strategy was re-drafted in December the same year before being evaluated in roundtable meetings involving the MoH, NGOs, NCHPP, and private health providers. On January 2011, based on the suggestions of the meeting attendees, a draft of the document was submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Administration (MoPAD) followed by a final draft in March.
The second phase involved the formulation of the actual PHS strategy. The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee sought input and feedback from the Thematic Groups, the HPPGD, and the National Council for Health Policy and Strategic Planning during the second phase. The scope of the consultations was wide since they involved professionals from the health ministry, technical experts, policy planners, and leaders from “medical schools, local NGOs, medical syndicates, the Palestine Medical Council, and the private sector” (PNA 2010, Para. 8). The stakeholder roundtable meetings were crucial in identifying the ground rules and respective roles of each player in the sector. The consultations involving various public and private agencies helped identify the issues that needed to be addressed. After the consultative meetings, the stakeholders’ views and recommendations were incorporated in the draft document, which was then subjected to fine-tuning. It can be concluded that the final document incorporated the views of the relevant private and public actors in the health sector. Nevertheless, besides the health ministry budget, it is not clear how the funding will be addressed since the donor agencies were not consulted. This has a potential of not incentivizing donors to give more grants towards this program.
The third phase of the roadmap covered a period of one year (February 2009 to March 2010). It focused on policy and strategy formulation and harmonization of existing processes to develop a roadmap. This step involved continuing education done by the health ministry in the Palestinian areas of Nablus and Ramallah (Awad 2010). Subsequent interdepartmental discussions and cooperation with the Italian health ministry yielded the first draft of the MoH strategy. The MoH staff then edited the document to align it with the ministry’s value, vision, and mission statements. Subsequent meetings with the donors, the NCHPP, NGOs, MoH personnel, WHO, and Italian officials, among others yielded the final strategy document. Therefore, the strategy is comprehensive and all-inclusive, as it involved views and perspectives of multiple local and international health agencies, experts, and global donor organizations. The final process was more comprehensive and exhaustive in its coverage. The involvement of multiple agencies and partners ensured that all opportunities for action were identified and expert opinion incorporated in developing an effective strategy document.
PNA’s Efforts to Enhance Maternal and Child Health
The Palestinian National Authority employs a number of strategies to enhance the effectiveness of foreign aid directed towards improving child and maternal health (PNA 2011). In the oPT areas of West Bank and Gaza, infant mortality rate has remained relatively high since the 1990s. Rahim et al. (2009) attribute the high infant mortality rate to “health disparities and inadequate primary care” (p. 968). Moreover, the Israeli barriers have also hampered the accessibility of health care services to the oPT zones. As a result, maternal and child health care services are lacking in these areas. Although the penetration of maternal and child health services in oPTs is low, the country’s fertility rate is relatively high (4.6%) partly due to “early marriage and restricted work opportunities for women” (PNA 2012, Para. 6). The PNA has focused its efforts on programs that improve child and maternal health as well as on reducing the fertility and infant mortality rates.
MoPAD funds PNA’s programs with the assistance of donors from the international community. The PNA launched an action plan aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of donor funding in supporting key initiatives. The initial action plan (2008-2010) was revised to a new one for the 2011-2013 periods. Palestine is one of the countries that receive the highest foreign aid from donors (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics [PCBS] 2008). This presents problems to the health ministry with regard to equitable resource allocation to reduce disparities and increase accessibility of primary care services. Since the accessibility of health care services in oPT areas is low, monitoring the effectiveness of the financial aid received from the international community is crucial to ensure that the programs achieve the intended health outcomes.
As aforementioned, the PNA plays the oversight role to ensure aid effectiveness is achieved as laid down in the Paris Declaration. According to PCBS (2011), the effective expenditure by the MoH amounted to about 1,200 million shekels in 2010 with recurrent spending (salaries) taking up about 42%. Moreover, unpaid bills totaling “300 million shekels” were carried forward from 2010 to 2011 (PCBS 2011). This indicates that the PNA keeps track of the health care spending originating from both the ministry of health and the international community. One way in which PNA enhances the effectiveness of foreign aid is through integrated ownership of the health programs. Interventions and strategies, such as the PHA Health Strategy, often involve consultations during their development.
The MoH coordinates the consultative meetings and ensures that the stakeholders’ views and suggestions are incorporated in the final strategy. In this way, the donors identify with and support the policies since they are consulted during formulation. For instance, the Ministry of Health centers in Gaza and West Bank, which served an estimated 19,094 women in 2010, involved collaboration between the MoH and NGOs (Mataria et al. 2011). Therefore, MoH enhances the effectiveness of foreign aid directed towards maternal and child health interventions through coordination, consultation, and development of policies that promote ownership.
The MoH, through PNA, also harmonizes donor projects to avoid duplication of roles in oPT areas. The ministry supports collaboration amongst donors in the health sector to ensure that the projects are effective in promoting child and maternal care. The proliferation of donor-funded programs in oPT regions can lead to overlap of roles if they are not coordinated. Child and maternal health services in Palestine cover issues related to family planning, fertility rate, and infant mortality, which are all coordinated by the Ministry of Health (Clark et al. 2010). The PNA harmonizes all health care projects and interventions.
The Ministry of Health also advises donors to align their programs with the national health strategy. It oversees all programs within the health sector, including donor-funded initiatives. It requires donors, NGOs, and other international agencies to implement programs that are within the ministry’s strategic framework. The partners collaborate with the MoH in providing financial and technical support for the Palestinian health strategy. They are required to disburse funds in accordance with the government policies and dialogue with the ministry on matters of policy and project implementation. Monitoring and evaluation also involve joint efforts between the donors and the ministry of health. MoH also provides benchmarks for evaluating the results of an intervention. It allows donors to plan for measurable outputs within a specified period.
The Appropriateness of the Strategy’s Objectives and Outcomes
The MoH outlines eight specific objectives for the 2011-2013 health strategy. Its central aim is to promote equitable, effective, and quality health care services to Palestinians. The ministry intends to strengthen health governance to promote planning, evidence-based practice, accountability, and professional development. It is through effective health care administration and regulation that quality medical services can be made available to vulnerable groups. Stringent licensing requirements would enhance accountability and eliminate unhealthy practices that affect the health outcomes of the population. Moreover, professional development, as enshrined in MoH’s second objective, would enhance health care delivery and management.
The ministry also intends to increase public awareness in relation to chronic disease conditions. The ministry plans to achieve this through private-public partnerships. However, community involvement, which is lacking in the third objective, is also essential in chronic disease management and health promotion. Health care accessibility, which is often low in remote areas, will be reached through collaborations involving NGOs and the ministry staff. In its fifth objective, the ministry intends to develop elaborate health care financing options that involve an integrated budgeting system. However, this may not incentivize players in the health sector since the ministry will monitor their expenditures.
Aid effectiveness is another key objective proposed in the health strategy. The ministry proposes uniform procedures for financial disbursements and project appraisal. However, as already stated, the overregulation of the health sector can reduce the number of actors in the health sector, which will hamper health care delivery. The ministry also intends to promote partnerships between different players to enhance health care accessibility. However, coordinating these partnerships may be problematic considering the high number of health care products tailor-made for each demographic group. Its final objective is to enhance collaboration between the MoH and the other sectors of the economy in terms of strategy formulation and planning. This will ensure that health issues are addressed comprehensively through inter-ministerial policies.
Deriving from the objectives, the expected outcomes of the 2011-2013 strategy relate to enhanced accountability of the ministry of health with regard to quality service delivery and spending. The other outcomes include enhanced quality of life, decreased obesity and smoking rate, healthy dietary practices, enhanced coordination of care services, improved health care financing, and increased staffing levels, among others. These outcomes, though promising, are not pegged on specific benchmarks nor is there a criterion for measuring the progress of the ‘strategy’ within the three-year period.
The Implementation Progress of the PHA Strategy
The National Health Strategy underscores the government’s commitment to improving the health outcomes of Palestinians within the three-year period. The Ministry of Health coordinates the various activities and programs initiated by partners to achieve the set objectives and the MDGs. The PNA (2010) reported a significant progress with regard to the attainment of the Strategy’s objectives and the MDG goals despite the unfavorable restrictions by Israeli military in the oPT areas. According to Batniji et al. (2009), Palestine has increased the accessibility of primary health services (child and maternal care) through the several medical centers located in oPT areas.
Available data indicate that the post-PHA period has recorded a significant reduction in infant mortality rate. In 2010, infant mortality rate stood at 24 deaths per a thousand births compared to 33 deaths in the 1990s (Giacaman et al. 2011). Nevertheless, health care disparity is evident in oPT areas of Gaza and West Bank. For instance, in the Gaza strip, the infant mortality rate stood at 22.4 deaths for every a thousand births compared to West Bank’s 18.2 in 2012 (Mahmoud 2013). This gap indicates that Gaza Strip needs more health care resources to eradicate the causes of the high infant mortality rate and enhance equity.
Moreover, communicable diseases, congenital malformations, respiratory infections, and Hepatitis can be addressed through improved accessibility of health care services (Husseini et al. 2009). The MoH records show that the maternal death rate declined from 38 to 32 per a thousand women while HIV infection cases increased from 66 cases to 75 in 2011 (Mahmoud 2013). Thus, there has been some progress in addressing maternal and child health issues in Palestine. The MoH, through partnerships with NGOs and UNRWA, has significantly expanded primary health care services in the oPT regions. In 2005, there were 654 primary health centers (PHCs) providing services to a population of 3.7 million Palestinians (PCBS 2007). In general, the MoH is the leading provider of primary health services followed by NGOs and UNRWA.
Although the partnerships between MoH and private providers have improved the accessibility of health care services, a significant proportion of the population lacks essential medical services. In West Bank, 12% of the population lacks primary health care while 22% cannot get emergency services (PCBS 2011). In zone C, which is not the jurisdiction of the PNA, PHC centers are few and thus, the availability of basic services to the inhabitants is low. Moreover, restricted workforce movement in certain areas in West Bank means that many people rely on mobile medical clinics for health services. Similarly, in Gaza, health care services are lacking with about 50% of hospitals lacking medical equipment and drugs (Mahmoud 2013).
As aforementioned, non-communicable conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory illnesses are the main causes of mortality in oPT regions. This underscores the need to invest in initiatives that focus on lifestyle change to prevent these chronic conditions in adults. With regard to infant mortality, interventions should aim at creating awareness about the significance of antenatal and neonatal care.
References
Awad, M 2010, Health care and immunization for Palestinian mothers and children in need, Web.
Batniji, R et al. 2009, ‘Health as human security in the occupied Palestinian territory’, The Lancet, vol. 373, no.9, pp. 1133-1143.
Clark, C et al. 2010, ‘Association between exposure to political violence and intimate-partner violence in the occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional study’, The Lancet, vol. 375, no. 9, pp. 310-316.
Giacaman, R et al. 2011, ‘Health status and health services in the Palestinian occupied territories’, The Lancet, vol. 373, no. 6, pp. 837-849.
Husseini, A et al. 2009, ‘Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer in the occupied Palestinian territory’, The Lancet, vol. 372, no.9, pp. 109-204
Mataria, A et al. 2011, ‘The Health Care System: An Assessment and Reform Agenda’, The Lancet, vol. 373, no. 9, pp.1207–1217.
Mahmoud, A 2013, ‘Health Challenges in Palestine’, Science & Diplomacy, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 91-98.
Ministry of Health [MoH] 2009, Health Status in Palestine, Annual report 2008, Web.
Despite the numerous debates concerning the issue of immunization, the given concern remains on the agenda of the present-day healthcare service. Indeed, the issue does seem incredibly tricky, with the clear guidelines stressing the necessity to provide the population with vaccination from a specific list of diseases, on the one hand, and the rapidly emerging arguments concerning the harmful effects and the lack of actual result of traditional immunization system, on the other hand. Since at present, the attitudes towards vaccination are highly negative among the general population of the USA, for a nursing specialist, it is important to promote awareness of the effects that the refusal to get vaccinated leads to, as well as create a campaign that will help people realize the threat that they put themselves into when refusing to get vaccinations.
History of Immunization
It should be mentioned that the U.S. has quite a short history of vaccination. Immunization was not considered a top priority up until 1905 when in the case of Jacobson vs. Massachusetts, compulsory vaccination was the court verdict. At the end of the XX century, however, major issues regarding compulsory vaccinations started to appear (Vaccinophobia and vaccine controversies of the XXI century, 2013).
Arguments Pro and Contra
When particular effects of vaccination are analyzed, a number of cases when vaccinations had a deplorable effect on the patients are often mentioned to prove a point. Indeed, a number of individual reactions of a particular organism on certain agents may remain undiscovered until a vaccination takes place. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to predict the results of immunization with one hundred percent precision; however, there is a reasonable strategy that can help deal with the possible negative outcomes. To avoid such instances, it is desirable to be aware of one’s genetic portrait, i.e., the specifics of the immune system of not only one’s own organism but also of the closest relatives, starting from parents (Richards-Cortum, 2009).
The arguments in favor of vaccination are not quite numerous, either; however, they are just as much impressive as the ones against immunization. As it has been explained previously, it would be a mistake to consider most of the deadly diseases that vaccines prevent to be wiped out of the face of the Earth; instead, viruses switch to a dormant state, therefore, keeping their destructive capacities active and being ready to attack an unprotected organism. Since the threat of bringing such diseases as bubonic fever and many more is admittedly terrifying, it is clear that at present, resorting to optional vaccination depending on the immune system background and individual reactions seems the most reasonable way out of the situation. The fact that the U.S. has the safest record on vaccination is also often brought up when arguing for making immunization procedures compulsory (Teunissen, 2011).
That being said, the negative effects of vaccination are obvious. In case of individual intolerance to medication, vaccination can lead to serious consequences, including itches, edemas and even fatal outcomes. However, the positive effects of immunization still show clearly that the given procedure must be obligatory for anyone who does not have contra-indications or a reaction towards specific drugs. As it has been stressed, even though some of the diseases that vaccines protect people from are considered eradicated, once the premises for their appearance are created, they will reoccur. The negative outcomes that careless vaccination can lead to should be kept in mind as well, though; for instance, it is crucial that the individual reactions of patients should be recorded and revisited before vaccination. Once the necessary precaution measures are taken, it can be assumed that the immunization process should become safer – and, for that matter, more efficient.
Therefore, for a nurse, it is crucial that patients should be provided with an opportunity to learn about the perils that the refusal to be vaccinated creates. It is necessary that the parents should be aware of the individual reactions that their children have to specific agents, as well as be able to inform the nurse on the given reactions. In addition, parents must be provided with information about the diseases that their children can possibly contract if not vaccinated properly. Only being able to recognize the threat, parents will adopt a more responsible approach towards the immunization procedure.
Reference List
Richards-Cortum, R. (2009). Biomedical engineering for global health. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Teunissen, M. B. M. (2011).Intramedial immunization. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Academic Medical Center.
Vaccinophobia and vaccine controversies of the XXI century (2013). Omaha, NE: Creighton University.
Immunization of the pediatric and adult populations has resulted in the promotion of people’s well-being and the prevention of deaths. It involves introducing an antigen into the body in various ways, thereby sensitizing the pathogenic organism. The immune system becomes activated to fight such disease-causing microorganisms in future infections. The vaccines can be introduced to the body through intramuscular injections, subcutaneous injections, or oral routes (Drutz et al., 2021). Some regulations guide the scheduling of the administration of vaccines (Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2016). Different states and countries have varying immunization schedules. This paper will address the children populations’ vaccination schedule between 0 to 10 years, including the contraindications to some vaccines among this patient group.
Regulation of Immunizations
The scheduling of vaccines differs according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regulations. The timing of vaccines is updated yearly to reduce infant morbidity and mortality rates from preventable diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) generate annual regulations to vaccinate children and adolescents (Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2016). The rules provided by the ACIP give information on the indications, contraindications, and background information of each child. There is a total of ten recommended vaccines for children between the ages of zero to ten years. These vaccines are hepatitis A (HepA); hepatitis B (HepB); measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); varicella (VAR); Hib; PCV13; inactivated poliovirus (IPV); inactivated influenza (IIV) and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines (Drutz et al., 2021, p. 14). Children who get immunized have an improved immune response to these conditions.
Immunization Schedule in Children
Regulations exist for the vaccination of children between zero to ten years of age. The Haemophilus Influenzae Type B vaccine is administered in three doses after every four weeks, beginning in the second month of life. According to ACIP, the first dose of MMR is twelve to fifteen months, while the second dose is to be administered between four to six years (Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2016). Experts recommend annual vaccination of the influenza vaccine, starting from six months of age up to eighteen years. The meningococcal vaccine is only recommended for children living in high-risk areas, including living in communities with high incidences of meningococcal infections or a history of traveling to places with a high prevalence of these infections (Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2016). Furthermore, the PCV13 vaccine is immunized against streptococcal pneumonia disease. The PCV13 should be given in four doses at ages two, four, six months, and twelve and fifteen months. The adherence to this schedule promotes the optimal in children.
Contraindications
Patients with certain health complications are exempted from receiving some vaccinations due to an associated worsening condition. For instance, the vaccination of the second dose of DTap immunization is contraindicated in patients who suffered from a severe anaphylactic reaction to the first dose of DTaP (Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2016). Additionally, healthcare personnel should practice caution in the vaccination of DTap to children with a history of epilepsy. Moreover, the LAIV vaccine for influenza is contraindicated in children who are currently taking aspirin medication. It is also limited to children with asthma or who have a history of wheezing and difficulty breathing within the past year. The MMR vaccine is contraindicated in immunocompromised children, including those suffering from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, healthcare providers should practice caution during immunizations to reduce the risk of experiencing adverse events following immunizations.
Conclusion
Vaccinations are effective in averting preventable infections in children and adults, as they improve the body’s capacity to fight infections. The ACIP has generated recommendations for the vaccinations of children from birth to ten years of age. Adherence to the recommended immunization schedule is required for the improvement of the body’s immunity. Furthermore, caution should be taken in individuals with previous allergic reactions to vaccines or those who have an immunocompromised state.
References
Committee on Infectious Diseases. (2016). Recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule—United States, 2016. Pediatrics, 133(2), 357-363.
Drutz, J. E., Duryea, T. K., Edwards, M. S., & Torchia, M. M. (2021) Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis immunization in children 7 through 18 years of age. UpToDate. Web.
Among the most significant scientific accomplishments of the 21st century is discovering secure and effective immunization agents against illnesses that cause massive morbidity and mortality rates. Vaccination has had the most significant effect on reducing morbidity from severe diseases that predominantly affect the pediatric population. Immunization agents are believed to have saved 6 million lives per year from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Vaccines have multiple benefits since they can protect the population against illnesses other than those for which they were developed. Diseases with pathogens, particularly viruses, might increase the risk of contracting other infectious diseases. For instance, either seasonal or epidemic influenza virus infections are usually accompanied by bacterial pneumonia and acute otitis media and very occasionally by Aspergillus pneumonia/pneumonitis (Rodrigues & Plotkin, 2020). Additionally, for infections that are limited to human populations, global disease elimination is possible with the help of immunization agents. For example, in 1980, Jenner’s creation of a smallpox vaccine utilizing the vaccinia virus resulted in the virus’s eventual elimination by ring vaccination (Rodrigues & Plotkin, 2020). Thus, to assure no continuous spread, substantial degrees of population immunity can be achieved with the help of immunization agents.
However, there are risks associated with the vaccination agents. The perfect example of such risks can be wild poliovirus. Before introducing immunization agents, this severe virus commonly impacted children and adults (Rodrigues & Plotkin, 2020). However, in the 1950s and 1960s, the inactivated polio vaccine and the live-attenuated oral polio vaccine became accessible, both of which were capable of protecting against all forms of poliovirus (Rodrigues & Plotkin, 2020). Nevertheless, while such vaccines are widely used across the world, being considerably easier and less costly to deliver, they are associated with the danger of producing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (Rodrigues & Plotkin, 2020). Consequently, some immunization agents might be believed to be harmful.
While discussing the advantages and risks of immunization agents, it is important to note that such agents may be controversial. For example, the initial diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine was highly debated because of the overall adverse impacts of high temperature, restlessness, and infrequent, benign fever episodes (Dash & Verma, 2018). Moreover, it has been linked to abrupt newborn mortality and other dangerous chronic illnesses (DeStefano et al., 2019). Hence, while immunization agents prove to have multiple benefits, such as increased population immunity, there are still risks, including mutations of the viruses and controversies, associated with high mortality and morbidity rates.
References
Dash, N., & Verma, S. (2018). Pertussis and rotavirus vaccines–controversies and solutions. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 85(1), 53-59.
DeStefano, F., Bodenstab, H. M., & Offit, P. A. (2019). Principal controversies in vaccine safety in the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69(4), 726-731.
Rodrigues, C., & Plotkin, S. A. (2020). Impact of vaccines; health, economic and social perspectives. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1526.
Vaccines are a complex immunobiological solutions, which, in addition to the most important component – specific antigens, include stabilizers, preservatives, and adjuvants. Vaccines are primarily used for the active specific prevention of infectious diseases. In other words, immunization is the creation of active immunity in the population against a certain pathogen (Santrock). Medical professionals give many arguments for vaccinations. Firstly, vaccines protect children from viruses by producing the necessary immune bodies in the child’s body (Johnson et al., 2020). Secondly, timely immunizations prevent the outbreaks of dangerous epidemics. Thirdly, due to vaccination, children develop fewer complications of diseases.
However, some people refuse or delay immunization for their children. The main arguments of the opponents of vaccinations mainly relate to side effects. Vaccines are not one hundred percent safe – they contain alien protein and need to be handled with extreme caution. Moreover, vaccines contain toxic substances, in particular phenol, formaldehyde, aluminum phosphate and others (Hausman, 2019). Complications may be dangerous, especially if a child has an allergy to any component. However, it can be even more dangerous for a child to get in contact with an infectious decease and fall ill. Therefore, medical professionals must educate parents of the importance of immunization. It can be done by describing the diseases the child is offered vaccination against and their possible outcomes, including deaths or severe complications.
The role of a medical professional is to explain to parents why vaccinations are necessary and what risks their child runs if he or she is not immunized. On the other hand, a nurse should tell parents about possible side effects so that the parents are not afraid if their child has a temperature or rash after vaccination. It is important to respect the caregiver’s wishes and not to impose one’s opinion on people who do not vaccinate their child. However, by providing actual information on the deceases and their possible outcomes, medical professionals have a good chance to persuade caregivers of the necessity of vaccination.
References
Hausman, B. L. (2019). Anti/Vax: Reframing the vaccination controversy. Ilr Press.
Vaccines are substances that activate the human’s immune system without making them sick. Dangerous infections are preventable in this compelling and straightforward way. Medical organizations, including World Health Organization (WHO) across the world, encourage prevention of deadly diseases through immunization which is safe and available from local healthcare facilities. Protection against viruses is a necessary process that everyone should undertake to keep society healthy. Despite public controversy and mild side effects which are manageable through simple treatments, vaccinations stop the spread of harmful illnesses; save time and money spent on medication and prevent loss of lives, protecting future generations.
Background Information
Humans are constantly exposed to dangerous bacteria, microbes, and viruses in their daily activities. The body’s immune system is designed to protect people against diseases. When the body encounters a virus, the immune system triggers responses to deactivate the microbes and minimize any harmful effects that might occur. The presence of an infectious illness offers lifelong immunity that helps an individual not to contract the same sickness again (Frederiksen et al., 2020). The system remembers the microorganism and fights efficiently to eradicate it from the body.
Benefits of Vaccines
The benefits of vaccines in society outweigh the beliefs that vaccines are unsafe. Some communities, religious cults, races, and other ethnic groups do not believe in the safety of immunizations. Independent medical organizations test these injections and approve them before they are released to society. They are proven to be harmless and effective, according to researchers. Through technological advances, scientists can design substances that are helpful to human bodies regarding disease protection. They are verified extensively before they are administered to people. They can explain how inoculations work through the power of technology.
Many campaigns around the world about vaccination for vaccine-preventable infections have worked. For instance, the recent global pandemic, COVID-19, was reduced by the strength of immunization. The virus was new, requiring new approaches to produce the vaccine. The injection was effective and safe, saving people’s lives. Over 5 million deaths were reported before the coronavirus epidemic’s end (Ioannidis, 2021). The WHO ensured that the vaccination process was well-organized to be efficient, available, and beneficial to society. The COVID-19 affected many nations worldwide, causing many countries to shut down their businesses. The economy was entirely impacted by the action that was taken, including self-quarantine of individuals who had been infected. When the vaccine was invented and availed to people, the situation changed. Socialization was restored to the citizens, and the economy was rising again. The jab has guaranteed protection among persons, and safety has been tested and proven.
Vaccine-preventable diseases are known to be life-threatening, and, in some cases, they cause permanent injuries or disabilities. Such may result in a weak economy since the sick depend on a few working individuals to provide for them. In other families, it may lead to some members leaving their jobs to care for the sick who need their constant attention. This means that the economic growth rate is low because the dependent people are many. Lack of vaccination or poor follow-up schedules results in lifelong disorders, particularly in children. The parents or guardians have no choice but to stay around them for nursing and do everything for them. Such dependency becomes the norm, affecting the economy in the long run since they generate no income by staying idle at home.
The process saves the community money and time spent treating the actual infection. It can be costly to medicate a sick person, which involves hospitalizations, doctor visits, and premature deaths. In addition, the government may spend funds and workforce to respond to vaccine-preventable illnesses. For instance, the United States of America has saved millions of dollars through timely vaccinations (Ashworth et al., 2021). Vaccine side effects are rare and mild, and they do not last long compared to the symptoms of the actual disease. They may include high temperatures, swells, redness in the area of the jab, restlessness in babies, and pain, among others. The signs are treatable through home remedies involving painkillers or can be handled instantly by the medical team issuing the injections.
In a community, there is a vulnerable population, including older adults, too-young babies, or individuals with medical conditions that prevent them from receiving vaccinations. The vaccination process ensures that this group of people of protected through vaccinating others who are vaccinable. This procedure is known as herd immunity, and it aids in preventing families, friends, and those who cannot be immunized from virus attacks (Frederiksen et al., 2020). They help keep the relatives safe and updated without getting infected. When the persons around these weak ones are vaccinated, it guarantees health and a safe environment for them, and they can carry on with their activities without threats of being infected hence exposing them to early death. The disease spreads slowly or stops to escalate since most of these microbes move from one person to another.
Different ages tolerate vaccines, including infants, adolescents, and adults. Depending on the kind of disease one needs to protect themselves against, the substances are designed for diverse generations and can accommodate them. For instance, before babies are born, the womb prepares the immune system of the babies to tackle microbes that are encountered after birth. The boosters are offered to improve the capacity of the body to fight diseases that might attack them. Some child-related viruses include polio, measles, rotavirus, Hepatitis A, meningitis, and pneumonia. The newborns stand vaccination well, including several jabs that are administered at the same time. The only side effects the baby might experience include fever, getting upset, and pain, all manageable by the parents without the doctor’s attention. This reduces the risks of contracting infections hence keeping the baby healthy (Frederiksen et al., 2020). The babies can achieve their milestones at their respective ages because they do not get sick, which makes them slow down their growth pace.
Failure to take children for vaccination may result in isolation and quarantine. The child might contract a vaccine-preventable illness that forces them to be isolated from others to avoid spread (Arslanoglu et al., 2022). There is a need to stay away from daycare or school to minimize the risk of transmission. The young one cannot participate in events or activities related to the curriculum. The kid will also not interact with vulnerable people if the disease they are suffering from is contagious. Lack of participation in immunization affects the parents who cannot go to work for the duration of their child’s illness. Adults are forced to stop their daily routines to concentrate on their healing process, which may take longer than expected.
Diseases that are preventable through vaccines are still a threat to society. Some parents do not vaccinate their children because they think the viruses are weak and cannot attack their babies. Several of these infections, including measles and mumps, are common and can be contracted through social interactions. Caregivers need to understand that herd immunity does not guarantee protection for infants who are not vaccinated. “Vaccine hesitancy denies vaccines only to those who choose to delay vaccination; vaccine hesitancy nationalism denies vaccines to tens of thousands who want to be vaccinated. This failure to respect citizen’s autonomy can also cause them great harm” (Shaw, 2021, p. 3). The notion is that defense against these vaccine-preventable viruses is inactive in a vaccinated population. Some of these illnesses, including tetanus, are not preventable through communal immunization.
In some countries, the vaccination practice is mandatory for some professionals. The government considers these people’s exposure and protects society by forcing all workers to vaccinate. It is a policy that all health workers in other states must produce their immunization certificates. For instance, the global COVID-19 pandemic was highly infectious, and an individual could be infected by sharing objects or touching surfaces contaminated by a sick person (Ke et al., 2021). To avoid the spread, medical practitioners, including nurses, are encouraged to vaccinate to protect themselves and patients who might have ot her diseases that weaken their immune systems.
The medical bodies encourage vaccination to prevent the spread of dangerous infections. They ensure that the dosages are available to people and can easily be accessed. They have provided the local healthcare facilities with the recommended immunization schedule regarding the required prescriptions and the children’s timing. Public health officials prepare plans according to clinical evidence and relevant data (Shaw, 2021). It is crucial to follow the commendations provided by the practitioners to ensure that society has protection against contagious diseases that can further lead to untimely deaths.
Counter Argument
However, some communities do not vaccinate due to their diverse cultural beliefs and religions that do not allow the practice. Research shows that faiths and theories based on these ethical dilemmas make them believe vaccines are made from human tissues. Others trust that the human body is sacred and that it is against the will of God to accept foreign substances to protect them. Political influence through some leaders who oppose the vaccination process also contributes to the predicament. Most fear the side effects associated with the injections, which on infrequent occasions, pose risks. Potential reactions after vaccinations do not last long, and the signs disappear on their own (Arslanoglu et al., 2022). All these factors hinder society from living healthy and free from diseases. The facts against the immunization process are weak and outweighed by its benefits. These myths should be avoided to maintain a community’s safety and health.
Conclusion
Vaccines are cheap as compared to treatment, and it is advisable to get involved in the programs by receiving all that is endorsed without cohesion and keep safe and the entire population free from contaminating any virus. Other injections are offered free of charge to the community, ensuring that people are included during the process. The immune system remembers the bacteria or microbes in case it attacks an individual, and it is easy to fight because the symptoms are mild and disappear quickly. The vaccination process protects people in a society from deadly diseases, thus guaranteeing a long life span. Ethnic groups that do not support the immunization program should be educated on the importance and the benefits obtained from the practice.