Many parents have questioned if they should vaccinate their child. There have been so many negative comments on this topic and no clear answers. By the end of this paper, parents should have a clear understanding of why they should vaccinate their child. This paper explores one article that explains the reasons why this topic is necessary and important. This study was done in Georgia in September 2007. The article wanted to see the advantages and disadvantages of vaccinating children.
The article mentioned that the “vaccine was safe and effective for children aged 6 months through 18 years and that evidence suggested that vaccination school-age children would provide benefits to both the vaccinated children and their unvaccinated household and community contact” (Fiore et al. , 2012). This article supported the idea of children being vaccinated. Introduction There are many reasons why parents get confused on the issue with vaccinating their child. Some may have religious or beliefs that conflict with vaccination. Or some have heard many rumors of children being affected by this.
Based on Vaccines. gov there are five important reasons to vaccinate your child. Which are immunizations can save your child’s life, vaccination is very safe and effective, immunization protects others you care about, immunizations can save your family time and money, and immunization protects future generations. There have been so many advances in medical science that there is not enough room for any mistakes. Children can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Polio is a great example of the huge impact vaccines had in the United States.
This disease was once America’s most feared disease. Many people were dying and were paralysis across the country. The vaccination help people stay alive and healthy. Since, then there are have been no signs of polio returning back to the United States. Vaccines are only given to children because doctors and scientists reviewed and did their research to make it safe and effective. “Vaccine involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent” (Vaccines. gov).
Not only is getting children vaccinated safe for them, but also for others surrounded by them. This can help prevent the spread of other deadly diseases. Getting vaccinated is a good investment compared to not getting vaccinated. Most of the time this is covered by insurances and comes out more affordable to spend a small amount of money on the vaccine than spending thousands on hospital bills if a child was to get ill. Methods There was a meeting to discuss the pros and cons “of a universal recommendation for annual influenza vaccination for children in Georgia in September 2007” (Fiore et al. 2012). The people doing the research provided outlines of “data on vaccine effectiveness, safety, supply, successful program implementation, and economics studies” (Fiore et al. , 2012). They also discussed the challenges and risks of the vaccine. This study was both quantitative and qualitative. The research provided enough numbers to back up why the vaccine is necessary and important for children. However, it also provided enough statements for any reader to fully understand the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Findings There are studies that prove “children have the highest incidence of influenza. However, the highest incidence of deaths caused by seasonal influenza is among older adults and others with underlying medical conditions” (Fiore et al. , 2012). Meeting participants were “child immunization experts, city, country, and state public health officials, etc” (Fiore et al. , 2012). The goal was to bring all these well-rounded people to discuss influenza vaccination policy for school age children, however, it was not meant to develop recommendations or set policy. During the meeting in September 2007 many participants supported the continued expansion of influenza vaccination recommendations to include school age children” (Fiore et al. , 2012). There was enough facts to prove the benefits of vaccinated school age children. At the time the vaccine was acceptable for protecting children, however, it needed to be improved to decrease morbidity and transmission among others. There was a large amount of people who thought expanding influenza vaccine recommendations would pose formidable logistical tasks. Traditional healthcare access points could be overwhelmed, and such providers were not yet ready to deliver a large number of vaccinations needed in the few months available” (Fiore et al. , 2012).
Discussion “In February 2008, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend routine influenza immunization for all children aged older than six months” (Fiore et al. , 2012). Even though children have the highest incidence of influenza, deaths are not caused by the seasonal influenza virus What is common for this age group is the outpatient medical visits and work time lost for the parents. Additional studies are needed to examine economically important, but less severe outcomes such as absence from school and antibiotic use” (Fiore et al. , 2012). Children are consuming more antibiotics than they should. Also, not only do parents have to spend money on medical bills, but they also have to miss work to take care of their child. Children cannot go to school and spread the virus to other children. “One county-wide program allowed staff to immunize an entire school in as little as three hours.
There are parents involved and connected with their child’s school and might appreciate the chance to avoid a medical visit for vaccination” (Fiore et al. , 2012). There are parents that view their child’s school as an honest institution and feel comfortable with the process being held in the child’s school. “In the United States, school- located vaccination demonstration projects have met with some success and in some instances have demonstrated both direct and indirect effects on illness” (Fiore et al. , 2012). This article provided enough information for parents to feel more relaxed with the idea of vaccinating their child.
There are facts that show the benefits outweigh the ffects. “Several overall themes were consistent during the consultation. First, many consultants agreed that annual influenza vaccination of all children could reduce the burden of influenza illness among vaccinated children, would likely reduce transmission of influenza to unvaccinated household and school contacts… ” (Fiore et al. , 2012). Conclusion Throughout the years, there have been so many confusing parents on whether they should vaccinate their child. They don’t want their child to die or to get any sever reaction. However. imes have changed and science has advanced over the years.
With more technology and more resources doctors and scientists are able to support the idea of vaccinating children. There are so many diseases cured thanks to vaccines. With more parents involved in programs that talk about vaccinating children, it makes them feel more at ease. This article discussed how important vaccinating children is and why they wanted to commend for annual influenza vaccination for school age children in the United States. This article was meant to make sure every child in America is safe from any diseases. This vaccine was not meant to hurt or to kill anyone.
New vaccines are developing in order for people to live a long and healthy life. Parents should take advantage of this and provide their child with this best health care they can. Many countries do not have the resources, knowledge, or money to provide their people with vaccines. It was proven that children older than six months should get vaccinated because it was safe and effective. However, “Expansion of recommendations to include all schoolage children will require additional development of an infrastructure to support implementation and methods to adequately evaluate impact (Fiore et al. , 2012). “
