The Battle Against Infectious disease

9. A risk to phage therapy is that the virus and bacteria both evolve over time. Using this method more frequently may cause the virus’s to evolve more quickly. If

Vaccinations have been repeatedly demonstrated to be one of the most effective interventions to prevent disease worldwide. It was voted by readers of the British Medical Journal in 2007 as one of the four most important developments in medicine of the past 150 years, alongside sanitation, antibiotics and anaesthesia. However, vaccination currently saves an estimated three million lives per year throughout the world and so topped the list in terms of lives saved, making it one of the most cost-effective health interventions available. Modern vaccines provide high levels of protection against an increasing number of diseases and the symptoms, disability and death that can occur from them.

Thesis: Immunizations are one of the most important medical advances in history. They have severely reduced the effects of dozens of viral infections and everyone should consider getting immunized.

“In 2011 alone, 1.5 million children died [worldwide] from diseases preventable by currently recommended vaccines” (“Immunization” 2). The magnitude of this tragedy is in part caused by the fact that some of those children simply weren’t reached by organizations like UNICEF, which aim to vaccinate children (“Immunization” 2). However, there are other reasons for the recent deaths and epidemics—such as the whooping cough epidemic of 2012, with 48,000 cases nationally in the United States—involving vaccine preventable diseases (McClay 1).

A syringe filled with chemicals that have names that even the most well-read person could not pronounce, is inserted into the arm of a small child. The child lets out a yelp, squirms in pain and wonders why their parents would let them fall victim to such a torturous act. But in fact, this act may very well save that child’s life and the lives of many other children. Vaccinations play an important role in preventing and protecting children from infectious diseases that could be fatal to them. The critical importance of immunization in a child’s life and in everyone’s life cannot be understated. Vaccinations save lives, protect all of us from hazardous outbreaks, and provide economic benefits; and therefore,

My primary goal of getting a practical experience in pharmacy was to develop the knowledge and skills to actively participate in patient care, improve self-confidence, approach any task with an open mind, and having eagerness to learn what the rotation has to offer. I participated and attempted all the tasks that were assigned by my preceptor throughout my rotation. A very first activity I learned to perform was counting medications properly before pharmacists dispense them. While working on this task, I also learned to change the manufacturing number and do the partials for medications. Although it seemed like a very simple task, it requires attention, fast pace, and accuracy. Most of the errors in the pharmacy occur due to incorrect medication, dosage strength, or dosage form while filling so it is critical to pay attention to small details. Furthermore, my preceptors allowed me to perform vaccinations from the very first day which helped me develop one-on-one interactions with patients and improved my knowledge on administrating and recommending different vaccinations to patients. Since pharmacists hold a great source of information on vaccinations and they are easily accessible in neighborhood, pharmacists play a prominent role in prevention and safety of public health. When I heard news of my preceptor’s participation in flu clinic at the Village of Hanover park, I offered him my help for several hours. After administrating vaccines continuously

Medical vaccines are highly valuable to the human race. Medical vaccines are becoming more and more strong and effective. This is due to how fast technology is advancing as time goes by. One of the major outcomes of the advancing and innovative technology is that the United States can now develop better vaccines. For example, the influenza vaccine is a major positive outcome that has change people’s life. In Cathy Munford’s article, "Should Influenza Vaccination be Mandatory?” she states how there has been a ninety percent increase in the prevention of the influenza because of the new and revolutionary vaccine. Due

While antibiotics and vaccines have numerous well-known benefits associated with prevention and recovery, what unfamiliar beneficial effects do they contribute to society? When it comes to the topic of antibiotic and vaccine use, most people will readily agree that medical treatment will greatly reduce the chance of getting ill and will improve recovery time. This agreement usually ends, however, on the question: Are antibiotics and vaccines necessary to maintain a healthy society? Whereas some are convinced that the use of antibiotics and vaccines pose a threat to society by inducing antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and encouraging virus mutation, others maintain that resistance and mutation will occur naturally, and without advances in treatment these natural changes of pathogens are the cause of devastating epidemics.

In 1967, there were twenty-six companies that manufactured vaccines; by 1980 that number dropped to seventeen1. In the past many companies were financially unable to continue to produce vaccines because the profit margins were so low. It is estimated that vaccines represent a mere 2-3% of the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. When looked at from a business vantage it is understandable that few companies would want or be able to enter into such a small portion of the market. By 2003 so many companies had abandoned vaccine

Pharmacists are very important in the education of immunizations and they should use their knowledge to help their patients. For instance, studies with student pharmacists have shown the impact pharmacists can make in immunization education. A study involving student pharmacists discussing influenza and tetanus-dipheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines demonstrated that patients were able to view pharmacists as a source of information about vaccines and how their knowledge and attitudes towards receiving vaccinations were able to improve (Chou et al., 2014). It is unfortunate to have the data showing that pharmacists are not trying to take that extra step in helping their patients. It is uplifting to see the very low degree of vaccine hesitancy among Pennsylvania pharmacists, yet they should use their knowledge to help their patients too. Pharmacists can be a great proponent for the promotion of vaccinations and this study demonstrates that much could be done to help pharmacists understand their role towards vaccine promotion. More education could be provided to pharmacists and their important role in vaccine promotion. Pharmacists are a huge target for immunizations, especially because pharmacist are allowed to immunize individuals, so learning more about how important pharmacists are in this process could inspire them to value their ability in promoting vaccinations. The results of this study demonstrate that pharmacists are vaccine confident individuals and that the attitude that pharmacists demonstrate is a need to use their knowledge in promoting

Now, many once-forgotten diseases are reappearing. TIME Magazine reported that “In 2014, the U.S. experienced a major outbreak of measles that totaled 383 cases and was primarily spreading among an unvaccinated Amish community in Ohio.” (Measles Outbreak) The number of cases of these diseases is going up when it can be easily prevented. Worldwide, “Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available.” (World Health

The Center for Disease Control describes vaccines as the greatest development in public health since clean drinking water. For several decades, vaccines have saved countless lives and helped eradicate some fatal diseases. The push to do away with vaccines will not only endanger our youth, but our society as a whole. Vaccination is needed to maintain a healthy balance within our country. Vaccines provide the immunity that comes from a natural infection without the consequences of a natural infection. Vaccinations save an ever-growing amount of lives every year. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination (“Vaccine ProCon”).

Another claim against immunization is personal opposition to big pharmaceutical companies. Some believe vaccines are charged to patients solely for profit. This pharmaceutical profit-motive can call into question product safety and integrity. The overwhelming majority of vaccines are not highly profitable though (Lam). Due to the massive investment of time and funds required to create vaccines, coupled with only marginal returns on this investment, pharmaceutical corporations do not focus on them. As result, nonprofit health organizations and political agencies such as the CDC, and the WHO, generally lead the charge in vaccine development. It is a real danger that companies will stop developing vaccines altogether (Lam). Drug companies instead concentrate on well, drugs. Continuous treatment medications require patients to purchase repeatedly, until it is no longer necessary. (In some cases, patients may even take certain drugs until death.) The time interval of vaccinations is, at the very least, yearly. In the case of the flu, rather than one flu shot, pharmaceutical companies can profit more from selling antivirals, painkillers, and a host of other treatments to patients that contract viral sickness. Medications, rather than cures are economically desirable. As a biochemistry student myself, upon graduating I face the decision between conducting decent paying scientific research or developing pharmaceuticals with the opportunity of making upwards of $200,000 a year for

Pharmacists have a lot of qualifications they must meet in order to obtain a job. Many hospitals require a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. A Bachelors Degree is accepted for

Today in the 21st century the roles of pharmacist have expanded tremendously. Before pharmacist had the role of solely dispensing drugs. Pharmacists were limited to only being regulatory or clinical pharmacist. Back then they were called medical purveyors who were much like today’s regulatory pharmacist and hospital pharmacist who are similar to hospital pharmacist. Now pharmacists carry many roles in healthcare. Pharmacist can play roles in public health, community, health systems, state, and federal government.