Childhood Immunizations Save Lives!

The topic I chose to discuss this week is the importance of childhood immunizations.  The reason why this is meaningful to me is because my center is part of a hospital organization which requires all employees and all children attending the child development center to be fully immunized without exemption (unless it is a valid medical exemption with legal medical proof).  Our child development center requires complete immunizations because we offer a high amount of infant care and our babies are at risk to contract preventable diseases because they are not able to be fully immunized until age 2.  I have had discussions with many parents regarding why we require immunizations, the importance of getting immunizations for their children, and why they must keep current with these immunizations.  It is a constant, vigilant discussion and one that we take very seriously.  Problems arise when parents are not properly informed about the importance of immunizations, or are too relaxed at making sure their child receives these immunizations on-time and in completion.  I chose to read articles related to immunizations because I would like to assemble current research to aid in my advocation of this topic with parents.

Why Are Immunizations Important?
Dr. Rob Parker, a medical health officer with Interior Health said, "Immunizations doesn't just protect you, it protects those around you.  When most people are vaccinated for a disease it makes it harder for the disease to spread from person to person.  Recent outbreaks of whooping cough (pertussis) and measles are close-to-home reminders of the important role immunization plays in protecting the health of ourselves, our children and our communities.  Immunizations are safe and effective and they help save lives" (The Tribune, 2012).

A Great Challenge Facing Infant Immunizations:

"One of greatest challenges facing infant immunizations in Utah is the perception that vaccine-preventable diseases do not present a significant threat and there is no reason to immunize children. But, it is a fact that many children in our communities are not fully immunized and remain at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Often when children are not immunized, epidemics of disease can recur.   For example, 741 pertussis (whooping cough) cases were reported in Utah in 2006. Many of these cases occurred in children and adolescents.  Children need immunizations in the first two years of life to protect them against disease, disability, and even death. And immunizations should continue into adolescence and adulthood to provide adequate protection" (immunize-utah.org, 2012)

Proof that Immunizations Have Worked World-wide at Eradicating Disease:

In 1969 when the rubella vaccine was invented, the United States of America had close to 60,000 cases of rubella.  Rubella can cause expectant mothers to miscarry, deliver stillborn babies, or have infants with serious birth defects.  In the year 2000, reported rubella cases in the United States had fallen to 176 due to the immunization.  However, expectant mothers remain at risk without immunizations because people from other countries where inoculations are rare can bring the disease.  For example, rubella is still an active malady in Mexico.  "Around the world some 100,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome are reported each year, a 2002 survey of the Centers for Disease Control notes.  Thanks to immunizations, however, this country had just 11 such cases in 2000 and 2001" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005).

Immunizations have been very effective at wiping out disease worldwide over the past century.  This is exemplified by the eradication of smallpox and the near disappearance of polio except in Africa, where religious leaders discouraged vaccinations due to the misconception that the polio vaccine caused female infertility.  In many of these countries where polio has resurfaced, no more than 30% of children are vaccinated.  This virus mainly affects children younger than 5 and can cause paralysis for life.  "The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, supported by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has spent $3.1 billion since 1988 to try to eradicate polio before 2005.  In 1998, polio was spread throughout 125 countries, affecting 350,000 people a year; now it is endemic in only six countries - Nigeria, Niger, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Egypt.  Ninety percent of cases are in Africa" (Dixon, 2004).

Resources Used:

Dixon, R. (2004, Jun 23). The world; nigerian polio outbreak spreads over region, health agency says; rumors about vaccine's safety led some parents to shun immunizations for children. number of cases are expected to start rising sharply. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/421895958?accountid=14872

Immunizations protect your world. (2012, Apr 27). The Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1009871820?accountid=14872

Medical wonders immunizations save lives, only if people get them. (2005, Mar 30). Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/390861510?accountid=14872

Link:

http://www.immunize-utah.org