I chose to discuss immunizations. Working in a daycare, this topic hits very close to home. Although we are not DOE certified we do require the children to start with the basic immunizations. If we have an infant starting at 6 weeks, we ask the parents update us with the immunization list as they go through them. This isn't only for children, as staff we are required to have the proper immunizations as well. We receive the PPD shot every two years, and just this year we are required to receive the Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox shot).
I know in the United States, well New York at least, the Department of Education requires children to have all the immunizations before they start school. If they do not have them, a letter from the doctor exempting them is required as proof as to why they cannot have the shot. This debate has been going on for quite some time now and I believe there are pro's and con's to each side of the argument. I believe every child should receive all of the vaccines necessary for immunization records. All of these articles stating "autism comes from the MMR shot" or this disease is a result of that vaccine really bothers me. Growing up, we all received the basic immunizations, we all grew up perfectly okay. I am a firm believer these diseases and disabilities are not the "side-effects" of a vaccine. Also, I wouldn't want my child to be the one to spread a sickness through-out the school because I refused to have them vaccinated.
Vaccines are special. They help healthy people stay healthy and in doing so help to remove a major obstacle to human development (WHO Unicef, 2009). I have decided to learn about vaccinations and immunizations in Germany this week. New legislation in Germany will make it mandatory for all kindergartens
to notify the German health authority if parents haven't submitted proof
of vaccination counseling for their children (Scutti, 2017). Germany is trying to be proactive when dealing with immunizations. They noticed a trend in their population and a rise in diseases from the beginning of the year up until May. These new laws go into affect in July 2017 and will require counseling to inform all parents about immunizations. I think this is a big step for Germany and many other countries should take note. They are trying to stop outbreaks before they continuously get worse throughout the public.
Scutti, S. (2017, June 06). Encouraging vaccination around the world.
Retrieved November 12, 2017, from
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/health/vaccine-uptake-incentives/index.html
WHO, UNICEF, World Bank. State of the world's vaccines and immunization, 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.
Reading your blog regarding immunization bring to mind, do citizens have choices. I know that immunization saves lives, but sometimes they can cause life threatening physical and mental challenges or death.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing....
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteIf there was an outbreak of a contagious disease there would be blame passed on to the parents for their choices to not use the immunization. Thankfully, this is yet to happen, although once could be devastating. One more thing, most parents at my school do not get it from a doctor, we give them an exempt form to sign and have notarized. Because unless it is a medical reason, it is usually religious.
I was immunized as a little girl, and also when I went into to the Air Force, and when I started college in 2010. Three times with no after effects that I know of.
Germany has a cause and effect, and they are doing what is best for the majority. I wonder what the anti-immunization parents will do.