Public Health Policy and Decision Making CASE STUDY 1 INSTRUCTIONS After reviewing the information from the module and the case study, please articulate your opinion on the following questions. In addition to your opinion, include enough research/rationale to support your position and convince others of its merits. Be sure to cite sources within the body of text, and provide a reference list per APA style. 1. How do you balance the overall risks and benefits of vaccinations that most infants and children receive in the U.S.? 2. How do you feel about this statement: So long as a disease is rare where I live, my family and I should avoid getting vaccinated because of the risk of adverse reactions. 3. How do you feel about this statement: Even though there’s some risk of adverse reactions to vaccines, my family and I should be vaccinated, because if we are not we put the health of others at risk. 4. Currently, all 50 states have school immunization laws requiring that children receive vaccinations, although different states may have somewhat different requirements and potential religious or philosophical exemptions. How do you feel about schools requiring vaccines? 5. Do you believe that parents should have sole decision-making power about immunizing their children, in contrast to external regulations or requirements? • Save your paper as a word document in the following format: last name, assignment. I would save my assignment as Staley_CaseStudy1.doc. • Case study should be Arial, Calibri, Cambria or Times New Roman font, size 12pt, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. • All sources/references cited within text per APA style, as well as with a separate reference page per APA style. • The length of your response for each Case Study is 2-4 pages (double-spaced). Cover and reference pages do not count towards the page requirements. Please note the page requirements- no less than two, no more than four. 1 ¾ pages does not meet the minimum requirements. DO NOT place your name, course title, assignment name, etc. in the body of your text. Use a cover page for these elements that is not part of the page length requirements. • Provide a formal header for each question you are answering. Do not cut and paste the entire question for each section of your paper. You only need put Question #1, Question #2, and so on.

 

Public Health Policy and Decision Making

Student’s Name

Institution Affiliation

Course

Date of Submission

 

 

Question One

The term vaccine is a scientific preparation that entails the provision of active acquired immunity to a given ailment and is composed of an agent that is the same with the type of sickness causing microorganism (Desai et al. 2013). These vaccines are usually generated from a weak or killed form of the virus, toxins and one of its surface proteins where the agent will aid in destroying the different microorganisms. Therefore, the process of administering these vaccines is known as vaccination which has since been regarded to be the most efficient method of eradicating infections ailments. Treatment is effective in eliminating universal diseases such as measles, polio, smallpox and tetanus across the world and has since proven to be the most effective public health methods used to control and prevent this kind of diseases (Desai et al. 2013). In the process of curbing the constant rising childhood mortality and morbidity, organizations such as Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides a guideline on how childhood and adolescent immunization should be done.

In the United States, close to eight-in-ten adults have a strong belief in the immunization procedure where they recommend that vaccination for ailments such as mumps, measles, and rubella are necessary for healthy infants (Siston et al. 2010). Moreover, the morbidity, dominance, and mortality of a majority of communicable diseases have reduced in western countries due to universal immunization strategies aimed at infants and children. For every United States, birth cohort exposed to vaccination, close to nineteen million diseases and over 50,000 deaths are prevented, resulting in over $80 billion in savings. Administration of vaccines are significant due to the following factors; first, as long as a person is immunized against a given illness, the degree of the disease and its asymptomatic carrier state is lowered. Secondly, when a large group of infants and children are vaccinated, the unimmunized kids will still benefit from a “herd immunity” which is a controlled exposure to viruses. Besides, a majority of the infant’s health conditions have improved together with an increase in the quality and length of their lives. As a result of the vaccination program in the United States, a significant number of vaccine-preventable illness that was once a health risk for many years have been reduced both in morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the reduction in mortality from tetanus and pertussis that is directly linked with vaccination process has been projected to be 99.2% and 99.3% respectively (Siston et al. 2010).

However, some parents prefer not to have their kids vaccinated or use other alternative immunization schedules which have since led to a reappearance of several infectious illnesses due to loss of herd immunity thus exposing many communities at danger. Some parents in southern Pennsylvania have decided to immunize their kids against dangerous diseases with a paradox view of a widespread success of immunization (Siston et al. 2010). Besides, the observed adverse effects of vaccine-preventable ailments are little since people have been exposed to low experience with them thus making it a challenge for health care providers to convince them on the need for vaccination. The view of the risk associated with vaccination has been fueled by the media group as they have regularly been reporting cases of childhood disability after immunization. In conclusion, the various advantages of having vaccination among the teenagers outweigh the side effects hence the process should be encouraged and embraced by parents who minds about the health status of their kids

Question Two

The statement “so long as a disease is rare where I live, my family and I should avoid getting vaccinated due to the risk of adverse reaction” is false and not recommended by some healthcare providers. It is wrong since there are a lot of movements associated with different people moving from one place to another which could easily bring illness to a particular human living surrounding thus affecting the person together with the kids when not immunized. Moreover, even though many preventable ailments have since become rare in many states, the infectious agents that lead to server sickness are in constant circulation in given parts of the world. These viruses are highly speeded in the inter-connected world where they can cross geographical boundaries and affect anyone who is not immunized or protected against various infections. A good example is witnessed in the Western Europe where the outbreak of measles has been massive in unvaccinated populations more so in United States, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland (Villar et al. 2015). Some of the main reasons for getting vaccinated is the urge to protect oneself, and those around them as a successful vaccination process entirely depends on the togetherness and cooperation of every individual to safeguard the health of all. It is essential not to solely rely on another person’s health life for one to be safe thus it is recommended for anyone to take an initiative of getting vaccinated.

Moreover, the herd immunity is another health benefit associated with having infants and children treated since, in communities where a significant number of people are immunized, the concept will deter an infection from spreading as it will have nowhere to go. However, when the perception of avoiding immunization due to lack of its symptoms occurs, then the possibility of an outbreak is likely to emerge. The concept of proper hygiene is another factor that prevents a group of people from being vaccinated. Sanitation and better hygiene are important in safeguarding people from infectious diseases even though many ailments can still be transmitted regardless of how neat a person is. Therefore, if a family decides not to immunize the family members, then illnesses that have since become uncommon such as whooping cough, measles, and polio will resurface. It is also recommended that an infant should be given more than one vaccine at a time since it bears no risk to the child’s immune system as kids are exposed to many foreign substances that interfere with the normal functioning of their immune system (Villar et al. 2015). Some of the benefits of practicing multiple immunizations are the fact that the entire process is cheaper and saves time. Besides, when a combined vaccination for rubella, mumps, and measles are administered at the same time, it reduces some injections given to the baby and lowers the discomforts associated with the whole medical procedure. It is, therefore, the duty of community members, health care providers, and the head of states to increase vaccination awareness among the infants and children to reduce the rate of mortality and morbidity. Moreover, it is clear that the incidence and risks associated with communicable diseases have reduced significantly in many parts of Western countries as result of immunization initiatives aimed at infants and children.

Question Three

The statement “even though there are some risks of adverse reactions to vaccines, my family and I should be vaccinated because if we are not, we put the health of others at risk” is recommended and right since avoiding vaccination exposes one to various dangers together with the people around him or her. There is no more cost-effective and appropriate way of a preventive health intervention than prevention as it is the only significant way of reducing an outbreak of a considerable number of fatal diseases in a given community. As observed by Whitney et al. (2014), a big portion of chronic infections is contributed by the presence of infectious agents. Having to be vaccinated is significant not only to the health status but also in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the society. Also, vaccination does not only help in preventing the death and suffering accompanied with the infectious illnesses such as diarrhea, polio, whooping cough, and measles but also assists in embracing national priorities such as education and economic developments that are essential for growth of a community. It is also clear that through exposing one’s child to vaccination, the is a high possibility of safeguarding other community members who may be having weak immune systems due to other possible ailments they might be suffering from or medication they are consuming (Whitney et al. 2014). Also, vaccination assists in protecting people diagnosed with chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung, liver, and kidney diseases who are prone to be infected with different immune illnesses. Therefore, many societies rely entirely on the process of immunization with the intention of keeping vaccine-preventable diseases from spreading from one place to the other. When more community members are immunized, there are fewer risks associated with the possible infections emerging as a result of the failure to conduct vaccination procedures. It is thus clear that the more parents that prefer not to vaccinate their children, the more the danger that the virus will spread to other parts of the community and affect other people as well.

Vaccination is advantageous to a community since it inspires economic growth as good health is significant in driving and promoting a stable social growth and economic development that are strategic drivers to development. Stable health condition is ultimate to economic development for stable countries such as the United States and immunization forms the core of their public health programs. In a wrap, the advantageous associated with the entire vaccination process in the United States overlaps beyond prevention of a particular infection in individuals. It a fundamental contribution towards a rich, multifaceted harvest for communities and nations as well; hence, vaccinations contribute to creating a stable economy that fulfills the demands of various members of the community. Lowering universal child mortality through enhancing worldwide access to safe vaccines of a recommended efficacy is a moral duty for the international community since it is a human right for every person to live a better life (Whitney et al. 2014). On the hand, parents should be educated on the clinical presentations of vaccine-preventable infections together with their different early symptoms. Ailments such as measles and pertussis are considered to be highly contagious and might be reflected as a non-specific respiratory sickness among the infants.   

Question Four

Vaccinations in various schools are one of the best and effective civic well-being involvements, which should be done since it helps in averting things such as the ill health, humanity and vigor overhaul expenditures (Chao, 2010). Therefore, the primary determiner of present inoculation was to lessen or preclude school-based spates of VPDs. However, in the course of 1950s and 1970s, most of the conservatory young kids were the largest stage which was being posh by measles, and at the same time, the institutions remained the principal location of spread. On the other hand, a compulsory inoculation necessity as a condition of most of the civic organizations was critical because it was used as a matriculation tool to the pupils and helps the family in saving time and money. For instance, it was one of the maximum capable means of disseminating hoi polloi resistance (Chao, 2010). Therefore, the crowd protection is always extant in a communal when such a great proportion of its associates have already stayed jabbed from a precise illness; then the ailment cannot advance traction in the unrestricted.

However, realizing and upholding mob invulnerability defends not simply folks who have remained exposed, nevertheless also persons with conceded or feeble resistant scheme which comprises of the aging, children and those exaggerated with HIV. Moreover, a teenager with a serum-avoidable syndrome can be deprived of attending the conservatory or juvenile precaution amenities (Chao, 2010). Some of the shot-needless maladies may also effect in lengthy divergence and incapacities and can yield a monetary peal for the reason that can vanish time at labor, medicinal beaks or extended-period taken in offering the infirmity maintenance to either the kid that is affected or to the grown-up back at home. However, masses exception does not impartially decrease stages of hominid misery. Since attaining flock imperviousness is an integrally defensive extent, instructing institution injections as a process of prolonging group invulnerability is distant fewer expensive for administrations, well-being caution earners, and the budget than considering fatalities of a sickness after giving the impression to the public. Moreover, the avoidable of the 1989 measles epidemic in the United States, for instance, formed $ 100 million in nonstop remedial expenses unaided. Making the masses protection to become one of the most proficient approaches of thwarting sickness and anthropoid anguish, but it is also the greatest price nominal (Chao, 2010).

Vaccination should be admitted to schools to the children simply because it helps in defending the forthcoming peer group (Chao, 2010). For example, serums have played a significant role in plummeting and in most circumstances, eradicated numerous infections that executed or cruelly incapacitated people just a few cohorts ago. For instance, in the case where the inoculation of the smallpox was carried out, it helped in getting rid of the syndrome worldwide. These make the youngsters not to contract disease rounds anymore because the malady does not occur again. In the situation where immunization of the teenagers contrary to rubella, the danger that expectant females permit this infection on to their fetus or neonatal has been intensely lessened, and natal imperfections that are related to those illnesses are no longer seen in the United States. Therefore, when the injection endures now, and jabbing happens wholly then the paternities in the imminent may be capable to reliance that some of the maladies that affect people today will no lengthier be about to damage their families in the impending (Chao, 2010).

Question Five    

Paternities should not have single supervisory control around vaccinating their kids, indifference to outdoor protocols or desires because the obligatory injections are very essential to safeguard the civil rights of others (Hull, 2011). For instance, injection of the favorite people is so right in that the ailment can be entirely being disregarded from the general public. If one individual decides not to get protected, then they openly damage another person’s liberty from the sickness by placing them in jeopardy out of their self-interest. Therefore, everybody in the social order is being obligated to acquire jabbing because it helps to protect the privileges of the others. However, when each person is left to decide on their own or on behave of their children whether to get vaccinated or not, then it will be autonomy with imports. Therefore, when working out various moralities of choice in an animation of mandatory to acquire a booster, then we are then captivating away someone else’s sovereignty (Hull, 2011). Moreover, one cannot then contend that necessary vaccinations take away their freedom if in not receiving them then it means that an individual is enchanting away others self-determination which is just deceitful.

On the other hand, a taking of the jabs is an ethical responsibility to everybody in the community but not too sure people only. According to John Mill’s norm which shapes that, “The only resolution for which the influence can lawfully be drilled above some extra affiliate of an educated public, in contradiction of few followers’ motivation, is to avert injury to the type of the society.” Therefore, all self-determination is being imperfect then we essentially have the simple provisions of what we want and which is a harmless atmosphere that can accommodate everybody, but not the independence that cannot be applied spontaneously (Hull, 2011). Also, when the supporters of the community go deprived of a booster, it is as unsafe for the culture as a total. They are, therefore, the source of congregations for the viruses and permit the syndrome to be feasted to the people. However, redeemable of the more subsists conveys additional contentment to the public, which helps in reducing the anguish and in seizure attains social prosperity.

The regime has got the voracious over the general convention to vigor the citizens to acquire protection. Through community bond which stipulates that the administration’s commitment to guard the people of the United States against the alien and tamed intimidations and infections. For instance, the supplementary borders of the public indenture do states that if a command in the regime acquire to an authoritative that the citizens have got the opportunity and the mandate to excise their role by eradicating it (Hull, 2011). However, to go through this what can the wellbeing management be so successful in their doing? Their primary and only duty is to make sure that Americans are all fit and safe. Therefore, most of the advices that people can come up with more so the parents concerning their children in schools cannot and will not add up in any way. Even though societies can have the side consequences due to the vaccination, but they cannot decrease (Hull, 2011). While at the same time domination of the collective would not be measured an inconvenient fact as boosters help the people more than it can damage them. Although this situation might make them halt from home or away from dense technologies there is no inoculation in movement nowadays that can originate demise as an adjacent outcome and from this the resolution can be affirmed.

Parents should not have the solitary in the decision-making, concerning the vaccination of their children because the illnesses we inoculate against can be so deadly. For instance, many of the children in emerging republics have stood slain by the same sicknesses. Therefore, the lives of these kids in these states can be kept safe when the injection has to be situated and returned to normal rates (Hull, 2011). Moreover, this makes more reimbursements of having immunization that greatly overshadows the hazards.

Furthermore, due to this, it makes the government not to allow the parents to risk breathe of their kids or exists of the neonatal and other people’s youngsters who are jabbed because of the wellbeing motives. This stand was reached at since science stipulates the dangers of not have the immunization to the children (Hull, 2011). On the same note, this is the issue not an arguable around distinct civil liberties against community fitness, for the reason that toddlers are not the postponement of anybody but they are also folks with their privileges.

 

References

Chao, D. L., Halloran, M. E., & Longini, I. M. (2010). School opening dates predict pandemic influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks in the United States. The Journal of infectious diseases, 202(6), 877-880.

Desai, R., Cortese, M. M., Meltzer, M. I., Shankar, M., Tate, J. E., Yen, C., … & Parashar, U. D. (2013). Potential intussusception risk versus benefits of rotavirus vaccination in the United States. The Pediatric infectious disease journal, 32(1), 1-7.

Hull, H. F., & Ambrose, C. S. (2011). Current experience with school-located influenza vaccination programs in the United States: a review of the medical literature. Human vaccines, 7(2), 153-160.

Siston, A. M., Rasmussen, S. A., Honein, M. A., Fry, A. M., Seib, K., Callaghan, W. M., … & Moore, Z. (2010). Pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus illness among pregnant women in the United States. Jama, 303(15), 1517-1525.

Villar, L., Dayan, G. H., Arredondo-García, J. L., Rivera, D. M., Cunha, R., Deseda, C., … & Rey, L. C. (2015). Efficacy of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in children in Latin America. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(2), 113-123.

Whitney, C. G., Zhou, F., Singleton, J., Schuchat, A., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Benefits from immunization during the vaccines for children program era—United States, 1994–2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 63(16), 352-355.

Still stressed from student homework?
Get quality assistance from academic writers!