The World Health Organization (WHO) defines immunization as “the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine” (Immunization, 2014). The purpose of the vaccine is to use the body’s own immune system to protect the individual against a possible disease or infection later on. Immunizations have been proven to control and even eliminated life-threatening infectious diseases. It has been proven to be a very cost-effective investment, they are accessible to all populations including those who are at risk populations, and they do not require any major lifestyle changes. Immunizations have prevented between two million and three million deaths each year …show more content…
Out of the Ten Essential Public Health Services it is clear that Healthy People’s 2020 goal is using all ten of the services. They have been monitoring the health status of individuals in a community for health problems. They are diagnosing and investigating that health problems are a concern to the community. They are making it a point to inform, educate, and involve people about the current health issues. They are including the community and partnerships to help solve the health issues, and are developing policies and plans to support individual and community health efforts. Some places are enforcing policies and regulations to protect individual’s health and ensure safety. These policies are then linking the personal that is needed to assure the provision of health care. The public health and personal health care is competent, and they are evaluating the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services. The research is continuing to look for new insights and ways to solve these health care issues (Hunting & Gleason, 2012). Not only are all Ten of the Essential Public Health Services being used, but so are all three of the core functions which include; assessment, policy development, and assurance (Hunting & Gleason, 2012). A study was performed in nine states from the
Vaccines are one of most successful and cost effective public health preventive tool in current century for preventing communicable diseases. According to UK Health Protection Agency (HPA), vaccination is the second most effective public health intervention worldwide. Immunization protects the individual as well the community from serious diseases. Since the implementation of immunization there has been a 95% reduction in the cases 4. According to WHO immunization prevented 2million deaths worldwide.
Since 1980, the United States has taken on 10-year plans that outline certain key national health objectives set to be accomplished during a 10-year timeframe (Shi & Singh, 2015). These initiatives are founded on medical care with prevention services, health promotion, education, community health care, and increased access to integrated services. The initiative, Healthy People 2010: Healthy People in Healthy Communities, launched in 2000. The initiative emphasizes the role of community partners such as
The health status of the population in the United States is a national priority. The Healthy People 2020 outlines priorities and to improve the health of individuals and communities across the country. Healthy People 2020 is defined as a comprehensive set of national objectives for “improving the health of all Americans” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para. 1). The Healthy people 2020, is aimed at improving the health of individuals and communities and envisions “a society in which all people live long, healthy lives” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para 4). A short priority list was developed and contains twenty-six objectives knowns as Leading Health Indicators (LHI). The list of objectives was created to prioritize health issues that must be addressed and to find appropriate actions to take in order to improve the health of the population.
Healthy People 2020 is a truly lofty project which seeks to improve the health of the entire nation, in a verifiable and drastic manner over a decade long period. Because it is a multi-year process it has a clear focus on the bigger picture, so as to demonstrate the needs and input from a diverse group of healthcare professionals. The vision of Healthy People 2020 is to create "a society in which all people live long, healthy lives" along with a proactive mission which involves the following steps, to: "Identify nationwide health improvement priorities. Increase public awareness and understanding of the determinants of health, disease, and disability and the opportunities for progress. Provide measurable objectives and goals that are applicable at the national, State, and local levels. Engage multiple sectors to take actions to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by the best available evidence and knowledge. Identify critical research, evaluation, and data collection needs" (healthypeople.gov, 2013). These specific missions will help the movement to achieve some of its larger goals of helping Americans to live longer, prevent diseases, disabiliries, injuries and untimely deaths; furthermore accomplishing a greater degree of health equity is also essential, as well as an elimination of disparities and a betterment of all groups who need healthcare (healthypeople.gov, 2013).
Healthy people 2020 “ establishes national goals and objectives for policy, programs, and activities to address the major health challenges facing our country today, and seeks to assure conditions in which people can be healthy, both now and for generations to come” (Secretary Advisory Committee, 2010, pg., 2). This initiative helps supports people on their health and wellbeing. It strives to identify potential health risks and help support improvement priorities. Healthy people 2020 have elaborated with different sectors to strengthen these policies by proving goals and objectives.
The United States of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the principal agency that protects the health of Americans and provides them with crucial human services, particularly those who are unable to help themselves. The Health and Human Services provides essential services to those who are least able to afford the cost of health. The motto of the organization is “Improving the health, safety, and well being of America” (Health and Human Services, n.d). Initially, the department also constituted education but in 1979, the Department of Education was formed and education was no longer a mandate of the Health and Human Services.
Immunizations are essential components in the primary and preventive care setting to ensure a healthier population. Immunizations are aimed to prevent illnesses such as Tetanus, Diphtheria, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Influenza and Pneumonia to mention a few. Upon their discovery and implementation, vaccines have aid to decrease the incidence of infectious diseases, which were once the leading causes of death in the country and around the world. Despite their validated benefits; amongst the adult population, there are existing misconceptions related to immunization usefulness and effectiveness resulting in an unacceptably low adult vaccination rates and unmet vaccine recommendations. Consequently, leading to approximately 40,000-50,000 preventable death and an increased spread of communicable illnesses("Adult Immunization:
Vaccinations are one of the most notable scientific break thoughts in primary health care history. It is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of disease in the community. The safety and outcomes of the immunisation programs can be seen in the scientific research, health of the community and in society as a whole. Vaccination programs have been the cornerstone of preventative healthcare
The world has many problems. Society has trouble finding adequate protection against the elements, each other, and many other adversities. We cannot fix every problem. We fail to completely survive natural disasters, catastrophes, and even basic problems. We can’t even feed ourselves. However, there is one major problem that mankind is beginning to solve. Vaccines are changing the world. They are becoming vital to our well-being. Vaccinations should mandatorily be administered to all children, especially those in our school system.
Vaccinations are a substance given to patients that provides acquired immunity to a specific disease. They contain either a live weakened part of the virus or an inactive form created from a dead version of the viruses, causing the body to produce antibodies that will attack the virus if the body later comes into contact with the disease. Thus, a person can reduce the severity of the disease or eliminate the contraction of the disease completely. However, vaccinations have become a controversial topic and parts of the population refuse vaccinations for various reasons. The result is a reduction in vaccinations, causing epidemics of deadly and high communicable diseases once gone due to vaccinations. Although some proven dangers to immunization exist, the benefits to the vast majority of people outweigh the rare risks.
Immunizations protect children from life threatening diseases and common illnesses. Chances are much greater for a child who has not had immunizations to get sick or even, in the worst case, die from diseases that can be stopped with immunizations. The immunizations do help contain disease outbreaks within our communities and our country. Here in the United States and other countries as well we have the public and private health care workers that are dedicated to providing the administering of the required immunizations. You must have your child immunized to protect our future. Having your child immunized is the best way to put an end to the serious effects of these harmful diseases. Disease prevention is the key to public health and safety. It is always better to prevent diseases than to treat
With a development of media and technological ways of social communication, is it vital to trust information from the reliable sources. Many people who do not trust or not satisfied with the quality of medicine, and usually quest the material from unreliable sources. Therefore, matter of reliability of immunization is still a huge topic for debate. For example, people sometimes rely on anecdotes, rare cases or even opinions that they have heard from others. The following article presents different point of view of the opponents, and emphasizes the evidences that support benefits of immunization.
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”).
Ragan & Duffy (2012, p.23) have also shown high immunization rates have resulted in a substantial decline in vaccine preventable diseases, particularly vaccination has eliminated smallpox worldwide. In addition, in a study by Bawah, Phillips, Adjuik & smith et al (2010, p.95) found that vaccination has resulted in a large and statistically significant reduction child mortality. The risk of dying for children younger than five who are fully immunized is reduced by more than 70% compared with those who are not immunized or partially immunized. Moreover, research by Dawson (2011, p.1032) also suggests that vaccination is a vital intervention in reducing illness and death rates in children and he estimated approximately 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year by vaccination. In addition to personal immunity Vaccination programs also bring herd immunity which ensures even greater protection for the community from communicable diseases. The level of vaccination required to provide herd immunity varies with virulence and transmissibility as well as vaccine efficacy. While vaccinating
A Vaccine is defined as, “A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease. Its products treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.” Vaccines have been around for hundreds of years. It is believed that the first unofficial vaccine was created in 1661 by a Chinese Emperor. Throughout the years, vaccines have become more advanced. For example, in 1955, public vaccination for Polio began and Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin found two different vaccines to fight this disease. Vaccines are very important in the world, yet many people have little knowledge about them. In today’s society, we have many different vaccines that hold great importance, though there many pros, there are still some cons still not worked out.