School Vaccination Case Study

In 2015 there was an outbreak that involved students at the University of Oregon. Six students were infected, one died. The University with the Public Health Department held four mass vaccination clinics with the goal of vaccinating all of the undergraduate students. (https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/DiseaseSurveillanceData/AnnualReports/Documents/2015/2015-Mening.pdf)

Imagine two children; one who has been completely vaccinated, and the other has never been vaccinated. Both children fall ill from the same virus, but the child who had been vaccinated fully recovers, while the child who was not passes away due to complications. That child’s life could have been saved if the child received the proper vaccinations. Ever since the invention of the Smallpox vaccine more than two centuries ago, there has been an abundance of controversy over the morality, ethics, effectiveness, and safety of vaccinations and immunizations. It has recently been argued whether laws should be introduced that render some or all vaccines mandatory for all children. Parents, health care specialists, nurses, teachers, and children

This explains the theory of why parents choose the non-vaccinated route for their children’s lives and explains it why it’s a social issue and not just a personal choice.

Consequently, it becomes vital for all children who attend school to receive proper vaccinations. Due to the simple fact that not only do vaccinations protect the children who receives the administered shots, it also protects other children in the school. Subsequently, if children do not receive proper vaccinations it will endanger “both the health of the children themselves as well as others who would not be exposed to preventable illnesses” (Daley, Glanz). Once one child obtains a disease, it

The goals of compliant vaccination rates for children in the pediatric department represent a performance gap when the number of actual vaccinations do not meet the desired targets which are a measure of performance expectations. Targets within this microsystem are set by regional Kaiser Permanente quality goals, in addition to The American Academy of Pediatrics according to a standard schedule for childhood immunizations. When families choose to vaccinate off-schedule, or not at all, they run the risk of medication errors when they do immunize as catch-up schedules are complex, not to mention the risk of their children acquiring diseases that can be prevented through vaccinations. However, this performance gap should not undermine the opportunity

Sufficient data shows that vaccines has made a major improvement in decreasing suffering and death of infectious diseases and syndrome. And yet, despite the mounting evidence that reassure the safety and value of vaccination, public health continuous faces the dilemma over individual choice, autonomy and protection of the entire population at risk. Children in developing countries now have more access to vaccines, yet, the debate continue over the requirement, including mandates immunization during public health emergency and school-aged. This paper addresses the framework for policy and laws that are associated with immunization that protect our children from infectious diseases.

The Australian Government reserves the right to cease family benefit payments to parents who do not vaccinate their children. Are parent’s neglecting the welfare of their children, and possibly, the general population by not vaccinating their children? Before answering this question and analysing the different views on vaccination, it is important to understand exactly what vaccination is and how it works in the body.

Between 1924 and 2013, vaccinations prevented 103 million cases of polio, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, diphtheria, and pertussis (Bailey). Vaccinating is “the process by which pathogenic cells are injected into a healthy person in an attempt to cause the body to develop antibodies to a particular virus or bacterium—successful creation of antibodies is referred to as immunity to the disease caused by the particular pathogen” (Introduction to Should Vaccinations be Mandatory). Popular conflicts regarding vaccination include the worry that this form of immunization isn’t natural, the idea that vaccination schedule for children in the U.S. takes away parents’ rights to make decisions for their children, and the concern that vaccinations aren’t safe for all children. Most doctors and scientists advocate for vaccinations in the name of herd immunity, protection against foreign diseases and prevention against pockets of disease outbreaks. Vaccinations should be mandatory for all children in the United States for who they are deemed safe and effective.

Every parent faces a psychological tornado of circling debates ultimately spiraling out to, "I will do what I believe is best for my child". A bill has been proposed in the California senate that has parents standing firm on either side of it: strongly supporting and fiercely opposing. Senate bill 277 aims to remove philosophical, or personal, beliefs as an acceptable exemption from vaccinations. It proposes that parents only have the option to opt out of immunization if their child has a physical or medical condition that would, in combination with the vaccine, cause damage. The most common acceptable conditions include autoimmune disease or immune deficiency, a serious allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine, or a previously reported adverse reaction to the vaccine

It may be argued that it is the right of the community to herd immunity for added protection, as well as sharing the risks and benefits of vaccination as equal persons in a society without a minority choosing to ‘free-ride’ the herd immunity when they are able to be vaccinated (2). Compulsory vaccination shares the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination equally within a population in an egalitarian and equitable society (2). However, it must be noted that some parents believe they should not have to sacrifice their, and their child’s, rights for another child’s rights

Thesis statement: “Since vaccines have been invented, there has been a lot of controversy regarding the belief whether parents should immunize their children for the benefit of the society or withhold vaccines for personal reasons”.

Millions of lives have been saved thanks to a global effort to vaccinate for deadly diseases. Peter Yeo reports “Immunizations have saved more children than any other medical intervention in the last 50 years” (Reforming the U.N. 118). Yet, a new trend for parents is opting out of vaccinating their children for personal beliefs or religious exemptions. Although, the majority of Americans believe vaccines protect children, and conclusive evidence has proven vaccines can prevent the spread of deadly diseases. Still, a few parents believe vaccinating children is not essential for their health, additionally, they believe an increase in mandatory vaccines has insufficient scientific research to prevent serious medical side effects.

“Prevention is better than cure.” This common statement could not relate any better than it does with the controversy surrounding the morality, effectiveness, and safety of childhood immunizations. The major argument is whether or not laws should be established to declare vaccination mandatory for all children. “The US food and Drug administration (FDA) regulates all vaccines to ensure safety and effectiveness,” (ProCon.org, 2012) therefor there should not be any reason to risk the health of any child. Vaccinating our children not only ensures their safety but also that of their future to come.

Throughout history, it has been shown that vaccines make a significant impact on the health of our communities and “administration of these vaccines led to dramatic reduction in the number of cases of, as well as deaths from smallpox, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps and preventable diseases” (Jacobson, 2012, p.36). Generally, those involved in campaigns for and research in these preventable diseases attribute vaccines for children as the main contributing factor to the overall decline in diseases such as measles, mumps, smallpox and pertussis (Jacobson, 2012). In the public health setting, there are many issues that threaten the health and safety of the public, not just in the local community but the nation and world-wide. One such issue, surfacing in public health, is the issue of vaccinations; those who choose to vaccinate, those who choose not to vaccinate and those who do not

We have all raised our eyebrows when the person sitting the row behind us starts coughing, and not just the “soda went down the wrong pipe” cough, but the real, mucus breaking, uncontrollable hacking. Likewise, many of us have also tried to not get too close to the person with the visibly red, irritated nose and the constant sniffling that comes with the absence of a tissue. As a society, we tend to be conscious of the threat of contracting a disease, but regardless of these common concerns, opposition to mandated vaccinations for school-attending children continue to be raised. The effectiveness and overall safety of vaccines have repeatedly been questioned by society (especially when it comes to vaccinating infants and young children), and some studies have possibly even shown the danger of certain vaccinations. However, upon closer examination, it is clear that vaccines have prevented more disease and have improved the overall health of the United States, and consequently, should—with few exceptions—continue to be mandated in our school system.