Child Development and Public Health

 

 

Immunizations

 

 

 

Here is a picture of a newborn baby having shots administered. This is one of many more shots that will be given as a series of  immunizations as she gets older. Immunizations are given to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. 

 

For this week’s blog discussion, I decided to go with child immunizations.  I chose this topic of discussion because immunizations play an important role in the health and wellbeing of children and people in general. As a child, I can still recall some of the shots I have received, as they were administered in school. In particular, I remember the large black booster looking gun that had a huge needle on the end. As the shot was being administered, I could feel the projection going into the arm, ouch! This was traumatizing to me as a child. Afterwards, the shot left a huge round impression on the arm that was visible for years to come. What such torture to children back then! Another immunization given was the sugar cube that was taken orally. I believe this was administered as a polio preventive measure. I am glad that my parents kept my shots up to date, especially back then we were susceptible to all sorts of viruses and diseases. Now that I am older, I believe that all children should be vaccinated as a preventive and safety precaution.  



The intent of immunizations is to cut down the widespread of diseases and viruses that our bodies are susceptible to.  So, as children, shots are recommended at an early age until their immune systems are built up to fight against viruses. The Center of Disease Control recommends a series of 28 doses of 10 vaccines be administered to children between the ages of 0 to 6 years of age. 

 

 Some parents see this as a controversial issue and have mixed feelings about inoculations. There is controversy as to whether or not immunizations cause autism in children which is another reason that parents and some health professionals’ dispute. Some other reasons are due to religious and/or health concerns. As a director of a FCC program, I am required to suspend and deny childcare services that are not up to date. This is part of our child and youth regulation driven by the Department of the Army that all children be immunized, which is for the safety and wellbeing of all children. Within our FCC homes and day care facilities children are often sick and spread germs quickly. Outbreaks of various viruses and colds become widespread causing a ripple effect on other children and caregivers. So, I strongly agree with immunizations being administered to help cut back on the spread.  

Although immunizations are recommended, they are not necessarily mandated by the U.S. government. However, as I have read, all 50 states in the U.S. require vaccinations prior to children entering public schools. Research does promote that vaccinations are safe and has helped to stop many illnesses, such as smallpox, polio, whooping cough, rubella and diphtheria. These were all illnesses that have killed many in the past.

 

 

North America 

 

In researching other parts of the world that also immunize, I have found that the North American region has exposure to that of a different type of infectious disease, such as Haemophilus influenza type B, therefore requiring North Americans living in that area to receive a different type of immunization. In addition, children living in Asia receive an inoculation against an infectious disease called Japanese encephalitis virus. There are many viruses and infectious diseases that children are exposed to around the globe, but parents, government and health care workers should educate and take the time to ensure that child immunizations are that of a priority for the overall safety of children.