Public Health Policy Analysis on Infectious Disease Reemergence - research-paper

Introduction

Policy analysis is a process in which we evaluate and identify the alternative programs or policies that tend to resolve problems which are economical, physical, and social. A few decades ago, people were believed to have conquered diseases which were infectious and thought that the battle was over. The recent outbreak of measles in the United States is an example of contagious disease. Reemerging diseases are those diseases which were once the main health problems and then eradicated significantly. Diphtheria and pertussis are the other reemerging diseases in the United States that are causing health problem again. All these reemerging diseases are preventable by the use of the vaccine. Individuals who are inadequately vaccinated in the United States are contributing to the resurgence of infectious diseases which were once eradicated. This paper discusses problems relating to the reemergence of diseases and evaluation of policies which should be implemented to solve this problem.

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The environment is playing a significant function in the disease's transmission through two forms. First, infectious diseases such as polio or measles that are eradicated in America are likely to be brought back when people from different countries travel to the United States. Few cases of infectious diseases such as Ebola in the United States has shown how easy it is to get back the eradicated diseases back to the US from other nations around the world. However, we are supposed to understand how easy diseases are likely to spread across borders. Secondly, there are areas where individuals are clustered, and they refuse to get vaccinated hence making it easier for infectious disease transmission. In this case, policy analysis may try to evaluate and identify the policies that tend to reduce physical, social, and economic problems (Patton, & Sawicki, 1993). Public health problems are taken into account in which complex solution is required. The solutions to these problems are identified through policy analysis using the six-step process. The process begins with a definition and giving details of the problems. Secondly, It then establishes criteria evaluation, thirdly we identify alternative policies, fourth, the alternative policies are evaluated, fifth, we select and recommend the preferred policy, and finally, the chosen policy is implemented and monitored

Detailing and Defining the Problem

There have been frequent occurrences of infectious diseases reemergence. For instance, the United States had 11 cases of the measles outbreak in the year 2011 wherein 2014 measles outbreak elevated to 23 instances and eventually, there was a multi-state outbreak in the year 2015. Measles outbreak led to a significant problem that negatively affected the United States population. If someone is not vaccinated against one cause, then he is not likely to get vaccinated against the other. We believe the continuity of this trend might cause the United States to experience more resurgence of these infectious diseases which was eradicated in the past. The good thing with these infectious diseases is that they can be prevented through vaccination though most of the people will resist due to medical reasons, and their personal believes. The World Health Organization has proved immunization as a useful tool for eradicating infectious diseases in which an estimate of 2-3 million deaths in every year is supposed to have been prevented in 2015 worldwide. The United States is required to use technology which will protect the population against diseases that would occur in the future.

Alternative Policies

There are policy options which are improved for regulation of vaccine enacting a consistent law throughout the United States that makes it difficult for people to resist vaccinations. After the development of the smallpox vaccine, the development of many vaccine mandates was then experienced. Due to the reduction of smallpox incidences, the set regulation required for vaccination were then loosened which in turn lead to the reemergence of this infectious disease. Today, there are no federal laws that can mandate vaccination in America, although every state is needed for certain children vaccination to enter both the daycare and schools. Even though Disease control Centers develop a schedule of recommended vaccine to children, the states are advised not to abide by the stated recommendation in which requirement to vaccination are different among states (Measles Cases and Outbreaks, 2015). Some states are exempted from the vaccinations policy due to their personal and religious belief. Due to the lack of strict regulations on vaccination, the reemergence of infectious diseases is experienced. Many policy options regulate vaccine, and such laws enact consistency and requirement in the United States and strict regulations that exempt vaccinations.

Herd immunity: there is very minimal opportunity for disease outbreak when most of the people in the community are vaccinated against the disease since most people are protected.

Evaluation Criteria

Vaccines regulation policies are evaluated by the use of criteria of population, health cost, wellness, cost-effectiveness, and constituent approval (Staley, 2015).

Alternative Policies Evaluation

Even though people are having their rights, there are instances where they should be imposed upon to ensure the protection of others. For instance, parents are given the mandate to determine how their children are to be raised. However, children are given rights to raise complaints to the relevant authority in case their parent refuses to let them vaccinated since their health as well as that of others are put into risk. The law is given the authority to intervene and provide protection to vulnerable people especially disabled and children. In this case, the federal law offers strict vaccination regulations as part of government protection duty to the vulnerable population. The law is also beneficial since the costs that are associated with disease treatment is more than vaccination cost. Even though there are risks associated with taking vaccines, they are very minimal and hence getting vaccinated has more benefit compared to risks associated with vaccination. Additionally, when an individual contract infectious disease that would have been prevented by taking a vaccine will be lost his/her productivity days and also gets ill feelings.

Policy Recommendation

The recommendation policy is supposed to ensure tight regulations on vaccination and minimize exemptions to individuals unable to get vaccinated. Even though an individual's rights are equally important, we are supposed to maintain balance with the rights of others to protect public health. Those who opt not to get vaccinated are needed to have them by the new policy since current vaccines they are put under intensive test before they are administered to patients. The herd immunity is the primary objective of policy recommendation to prevent disease spreading in case of disease reemergence. It is significant for individuals who cannot get vaccinated physically.

Implementation and Monitoring of the Chosen Policy

The chosen policy should be implemented and monitored strictly. The enactment of federal law is needed to monitor this policy by ensuring every person is vaccinated to ensure everyone is protected. The chosen policy must be put into action by ensuring clinical officers have vaccinated every single person.

Based on the above discussion, we have seen that policy analysis is a process that evaluates and identify alternative programs or policies that tend to solve economic, physical, and social problems. The federal law enactment provides tight regulations on vaccination to protect public health. This paper has also discussed six processes in policy analysis which are: Detailing and defining the problem, Alternative Policies, Evaluation Criteria, Alternative Policies Evaluation, Policy Recommendation, and Implementation and Monitoring of the chosen Policy.

References

Patton, Carl V. & Sawicki, David S. (1993). Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Staley, J. (2015). Policy Analysis [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved From Kent State Blackboard Community Immunity ("Herd Immunity"). (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.vaccines.gov/basics/protection/Measles Cases and Outbreaks. (2015, February 9). Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention April 8, 2015, Retrieved From http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html