Immunizations and Vaccinations Essay

Introduction

Whooping coughs, Rubella, smallpox, and polio were some of the most medical conditions that could affect the population. The dreaded diseases such as the paralysis associated with polio, devastating birth defects were seen in most of the newborn affected by rubella and other obscure maladies that affected most of the Americans prompted medical researcher. The need to reduce infant mortality rate and childhood mortality in the past century saw government invest in medical research that leads to the production of vaccines for the mass markets to protect the population against measles, diphtheria, smallpox, and pertussis (Kusuma et al., 2010). The government managed to contain the maladies, especially in the most industrialized countries. Vaccines become the safest, most effects and affordable intervention.

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Influences such as determinants of health and socioeconomic status.

Multiple vaccines may be or may not be available in most countries around the world to help the people overcome the infectious pathogens. In many countries, the vaccines are designed for routine childhood immunization. Over the last two decades, over 25 different vaccines had been licensed in the united stated alone to help in the prevention of the infectious diseases, never the less, there are some countries where social determinant of health affects the distribution of the vaccines. The successful implementation of the scheduled immunization programs has been affected by some other factors such as biological factors, epidemiological, economic and logistical factors. The social determinants of health affect the immunizing efforts worldwide. For example, in most of the low and middle-income countries, under-vaccination and non-vaccination of children are affected by the social fact odd.

In the low-income countries, the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases is significant factors. Many death and disabilities are associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. The social determinant plays a major role as the social determinant are significantly correlated to the accessibility, and availability of the vaccines (Kusuma et al., 2010). Logistical problems and the inability of the people to leave their daily duties to take their children for immunization. Availing vaccines services within reach of the population did not lead to significant improvement of utilization of the services by the population.

The household living condition was also another important factor in the determinant of the utilization of immunization services by the population. The vaccination rates in the low incomes countries were poor people live in slums was poor because of poor access, and the distances to the healthcare facility where vaccination pervades are provided (Kusuma et al., 2010). High rates of measles are associated with the low-income areas probably due to lack of access to the services. Household incomes also played a major roles n access to vaccination and immunization. There are other direct costs associated with immunization as well as the indirect costs. For example, most middle income and high-income household found transportation to clinics tolerable while the low-income people found transportation intolerable. Therefore, one can conclude that childhood immunization uptake among socioeconomically disadvantaged migrants is poor.

Past and present initiatives (private and public) to address the issue

Mass education and awareness has been the main initiative used by the governments. Parental education is also another major social determinants the educated parent are likely to take their children for immunization as opposed to the uneducated parents. There have been many instances where infant mortality among the less educated is high as the children died from measles and rubella because the parent did not understand the importance of immunization and vaccination. Other factors include religion that is also significantly correlated with lack of vaccination (Glatman-Freedman and Nichols, 2012). For example, some religions are against vaccination. Thee religions believe in a higher power, but the impact of the malady on the lives of the people makes some go for vaccination. Other social economic factors include war and unrest as well as migration that might affect access and distribution of the vaccines. Educating the parent about the importance of such services is important because educating the parents would sensitize them ion the dangers of the immunization-preventable diseases (Taylor, 2009).

Outcomes that have been developed and utilized to measure progress on the issue.

Vaccination utilization has significantly improved worldwide over the last two decades. Many socialites have increasingly adopted vaccination and developed positive view towards the vaccines. For example, in most of the African countries, vaccination has seen infant mortality and childhood mortality reduced by over 70% thanks to timely immunization. Disability associated with polio has also reduced. Apart from measuring childhood mortality, other countries used attendance to measures progress on the diseases

The status of the health issue based on measured outcomes.

Currently, many governments are working with the nongovernmental organization and creating a conducive environment for the implementation of the immunization programs. For example, the governments are aggressively involved in mass education. Some governments have also set aside specific days for immunization, other measures including routine monitoring and surveillance is also another strategy being used. The universal immunization programs have significantly improved immunization across the world. The overage levels of the vaccine have reached 85%. There are incidences of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) rapidly declining in most Countries. Since 2008, the coverage level of various vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) has reached 95 (Glatman-Freedman, &, Nichols, 2012). The average dosage coverage of BCG, OPV and DTP3 and measles is 80%. The average coverage dosage of Hepatitis B vaccine among children 12-23 months is estimated at 65% (Glatman-Freedman, &, Nichols, 2012)

References

Glatman-Freedman, A., & Nichols, K. (2012). The effect of social determinants on immunizationprograms. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 8(3), 293-301. doi: 10.4161/hv.19003

Kusuma, Y., Kumari, R., Pandav, C., & Gupta, S. (2010). Migration and immunization: determinants of childhood immunization uptake among socioeconomically disadvantaged migrants in Delhi, India. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 15(11), 1326-1332.doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02628.x

Taylor, S. (2009). Political epidemiology: Strengthening socio-political analysis for mass immunization - lessons from smallpox and polio programmes. Global Public Health, 4(6), 546-560. doi: 10.1080/17441690701727850