Childhood Vaccinations and Immunizations - Research Paper Example

Childhood Vaccinations and Immunizations No one can ever want their children to get sick if there is something they would have done to prevent the sickness. Childhood Vaccinations and Immunizations is a way through which parents keep their children safe from some diseases. When children are vaccinated against certain diseases, their bodies are given the ability to create more antibodies that help in fighting attacks by the disease that the children are vaccinated against. Vaccines are usually more effective if given to children at a certain age. For instance, measles vaccine should not be given to a child under the age of one year. The importance of vaccination can never be down played given the fact that it has been effective in fighting certain diseases such as polio and measles. Statistics have it that most vaccinated children usually live free from the diseases that they have been vaccinated against. As from the year 1995, CDC inconjunction with American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has always put emphasis on annual childhood immunization schedule. Prior to this year, these groups updated the immunization schedule only once in a while. The first vaccines were: Smallpox, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. hepatitis B and Haemophilusinfluenzae type were introduced in the 19870s (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2014). The first formal vaccination for adults was introduced in the year 2002. According to the state of Ohio, a child who presents a written disapproval of immunization for conscience reasons would not be expected to be immunized. This is an indication that a parents say is always final to the immunization of their children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Otherwise, all the other children are supposed to be immunized in accordance to the most recent version of the recommended vaccine There are various benefits that are associated to childhood vaccinations and immunizations. When a child is humanized against a certain disease, it does not only protect them, but also protect the other children around them. This is because they would not be able to spread the diseases because their bodies will be able to stand the attack. Immunization also helps in preventing lifelong suffering. Some diseases such as polio can lead to loss of body parts which means that the affected persons will have to live without those body parts for the rest of their lives. As compared to treatment, vaccination is usually safe. This is because by the time they are administered to the body is not under attack. On this note it can be said that vaccination saves families time and money that would have been used when seeking treatment after they are attacked by diseases. Vaccinations are also usually quicker than normal treatment processes in most cases. Despite the many benefits of childhood vaccinations and immunizations, there are a number of risks that are involved in the same. After immunization some babies might have some experiences such as irritation, fever, or feeling unwell. However, the good thing is that such effects are always short lived. Some children might also experience some redness or swelling at the point of injection after immunization. However, just like the irritation and fever, these effects are always short-lived. Though a rare scenario, some children might also have some allergic reactions to vaccinations or immunizations. The allergicreactions can lead to difficulty in breathing or even collapsing. Such allergic reactions are usually referred as anaphylactic reactions. Given that most of the side effects of vaccinations and immunizations are short lived, it can be concluded that vaccinations and immunizations are of high importance to the health maintenance in children and fight against diseases that have been proved to be dangerous. There are a number of vaccinations that are recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These childhood vaccinations and immunizations include Varicella vaccine, which is a protection against chickenpox. Chickenpox is a disease that is usually spread through either the air or direct contact. Its symptoms include rash, headache, tiredness, and fever. Given the nature of this virus, it can be said that Varicella vaccine is very important as it makes sure that people are protected from the disease before it attacks. Having a disease that can be spread through air or physical contact implies that there is very little that can be done with regard to preventing the disease from spreading. Even before the patient is diagnosed with the problem the will have spread the disease to the people around them. The CDC also recommends vaccination against Diphtheria. DTaP* vaccine protects the human body against Diphtheria. Just like chickenpox, Diphtheria can be spread through physical contact or air. Some of the symptoms for this include mild fever, sore throat, swollen glands in neck, and weakness. This disease leads to complications such as swelling of heart muscles, coma, heart failure, and paralysis. In worst scenarios it even leads to death. Hib is another disease that the CDC recommends vaccination against. Hib vaccine protects human beings against Haemophilusinfluenzae type b. this disease can be spread through either physical contact or air. The funny thing about this disease is that it rarely has any symptoms until the bacteria gets to the blood stream. This disease might have serious complications, including Meningitis, intellectual disability, pneumonia, epiglottis, and death. Another disease that the CDC recommends vaccination against is hepatitis A. HepA vaccines are usually used in protecting children against hepatitis A (Wiesel, 2004). A person can get hepatitis A by having physical contact with an infected person or consuming water or food that is contaminated. At sometimes this disease might lack symptoms. However, it can also have symptoms such as stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue, jaundice, and dark urine. At advanced levels, this disease can lead to health complications such as arthralgia, liver failure, kidney, blood and pancreatic disorders. CDC recommends that parents should consider vaccinating their children from hepatitis B. HepB vaccine usually protects human beings from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can be spread through physical contact with blood and body fluids of infected people. Despite the fact that this disease might lack symptoms, it might also have symptoms such as fever, body weakness, headache, jaundice, vomiting, and joint pains (Kassianos, 2001). If unattended to this disease might lead to serious health complications such as liver failure, chronic liver infection, and liver cancer. It is also important for parents to make sure that their children are vaccinated against flu. Flu is always spread either through direct contact or air. Flu has symptoms such as muscle pain, fever, cough, sore throat, and extreme fatigue. In severe cases flu can lead to further health complications such as pneumonia (Institute of Medicine, 2013). Sometimes flu can go undetected and given the fact that it can lead to pneumonia this can be a very dangerous disease that should be prevented at all cost. One of the common diseases whose vaccines are always given to children is measles. The vaccines that is always used to protect children from measles is known as MMR** vaccine. Measles have symptoms such as fever, rash, cough, pinkeye, and runny nose (Rogers, 2004). Measles should be avoided at all cost because it can lead to health complications such as encephalitis or pneumonia. In severe cases measles is known to have even led to death of its victims. The CDC also recommends that parents should make sure that their children are vaccinated against mumps. Just like measles, mumps can also be vaccinated using MMR** vaccine. In order to look out for mumps parents should use symptoms such as fever, swollen salary glands, headache, muscle pain, and tiredness. If not attended to effective mumps can led to further health complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, deafness, or inflammation of testicles. CDC has also made it clear that parents should vaccinate their children against pertussis. DTaP* is used in vaccinating children against pertussis. Pertussis is commonly referred to as the whooping cough. This disease is spread through air or direct contact with a person who is already infected. It is important for people to watch out for symptoms such as runny nose, severe cough, and apnea. Apnea is a common condition in children that is characterized by a sudden pause in breathing. If in any case pertussis is not taken care of in good time it can also lead to further health complications such as pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection that is characterized by a sharp pain in the lungs. Polio is not a common disease, thanks to vaccination. This is one of the diseases that the CDC has emphasized on vaccination. The vaccine for polio is known as IPV. Polio can be spread through the air. It can also be spread through the mouth or direct contact to people who are already infected with polio. This disease has symptoms such as fever, sore throat, headache, and nausea (McKinney, 2013). However, it should also be noted that polio might sometimes exists in the human body without showing any symptoms. A person having polio can end up being paralyzed or even dying. Another disease that the CDC believes that should be given more attention in terms of vaccination is pneumococcal. Pneumococcal can be vaccinated using a vaccine known as PCV. Pneumococcal is spread through the air or a direct contact with people who are already infected with pneumococcal. The most common symptom used in detecting pneumococcal is pneumococcal, which is an infection of the lungs (Lagrange, 2004). However, it should also be noted that pneumococcal might not show any symptoms at some times. Pneumococcal can lead to advanced health complication includes bacteremia and meningitis. In severe cases pneumococcal can even lead to death. Parents should also make sure that their children are vaccinated against rotavirus. Rotavirus is vaccinated using a vaccine known as RV. Rotavirus can only be spread through the mouth. In order to determinewhether a person is suffering from rotavirus someone should look for symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Rotavirus can lead to other health complications, including severe dehydration and diarrhea. These health complications are the reason why the CDC emphasizes on the vaccination against rotavirus for all children. According to CDC, children should also be vaccinated against rubella. MMR** is the vaccine that is always used in the vaccination of rubella. Rubella can be spread through the air or direct contact with a person who is already infected with the disease. Children who are infected with rubella can show symptoms such as rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Rubella can also lead to further health complications such as miss courage, premature delivery of babies, stillbirth, and birth defect. Given the nature of these health complications, it can be easily noted that rubella can be really dangerous for pregnant women. Another disease that CDC thinks that parents should vaccinate their children against is tetanus. DTap is the vaccine that is commonly used in the vaccination of tetanusCenters for (Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2011). One can get tetanus if they have open wounds that are exposed to the virus. Symptoms of this disease include stiffness in abdominal muscles and neck. It can also have other symptoms, including difficulty in swallowing, fever, and muscle spasms. Tetanus can lead to further health complications, including broken bones and difficulty in breathing. Tetanus can also lead to sudden of the infected person. It is clearly evident that childhood vaccination and immunization is of much contribution to the health of human beings. Despite having a number of possible side effects, the benefits that have been discussed herein can never be down played. Given the nature of diseases that the CDC recommends vaccination against, it can be seen that vaccination protects human beings from allot of suffering, pain, and death than can result from the diseases discussed herein. Anybody whop intends to promote good health should always advocate for vaccination, especially for these diseases. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), C. (2014).SCHOOL and CHILDCARE VACCINATION DATA. Retrieved on February 8, 2015, from http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqmtReport.asp. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).(2011). Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases.Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation. (pp. 56-73) Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2013). The childhood immunization schedule and safety: Stakeholder concerns, scientific evidence, and future studies. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.(pp. 23-41) Kassianos, G. C. (2001). Immunization: Childhood and Travel Health. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.(pp. 111-123) Lagrange, S. R. (2004). Vaccine issues. New York: Nova Science Publishers.(pp. 107-132) McKinney, E. S. (2013). Maternal-child nursing. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier/Saunders.(pp. 212-143) Rogers, B. (2004). Immunization safety review: Vaccines and autism. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.(pp. 196-219) The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, T. (2014).History of Vaccine Schedule.Retrieved February 8, 2015, from http://vec.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-schedule/history-of-vaccine-schedule.html. Wiesel, E. (2004). Disease prevention through immunization: Beginning of health care reform. S.l.: Diane Pub Co.(pp. 223-256) Read More