Global Immunizations

I chose to look at the topic of immunizations.  From our readings this week, you might recall the case of the man from Kansas who died from complications from chicken pox (Berger, 2009).  He caught chicken pox (varicella) from his daughter.  No one in their family had been vaccinated.  This happened as recently as 2002.  I live in Kansas and varicella vaccination is now madatory for children by age 3.  Kansas made immunization standards more stringent in 2009.  As a licensed preschool we must be sure all of our children have the required immunizations or they are not admitted.  If families cannot afford immunizations, our local health department provides them at a reduced rate.  We sometimes take for granted that the vacines are so readily available so I decided to look into efforts to immunize around the world.

I found some interesting information on the World Health Organization's (WHO) website http://www.who.int/immunization/givs/en/index.html 

WHO and UNICEF joined forces to help more countries immunize more people.  They developed the Global Immunization Vison and Strategy (GIVS).  Their vision as stated on the website follows:
"Launched in 2006, GIVS is the first ever ten-year framework aimed at controlling morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases and helping countries to immunize more people, from infants to seniors, with a greater range of vaccines."

Many countries have now used GIVS to help them formulate national plans for immunization. As of May 2011 when GIVS reported to the World Health Assembly, routine immunization coverage has improved, more vaccines are available to more children, progress has been made in eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus, cases of measles and deaths have been reduced, and advocacy programs have been implemented to educate on the importance of immunizations.

One more website I would encourage you to visit if this topic interests you:  Vactruth.com
the particular link I visited discusses the need for proper handling of vaccines and the deadly effect improper handling can have.  It also proposes the idea that some of the children in poverty stricken areas are so malnourished and sanitation levels are so dangerous, they are too sick to handle these vaccinations.  http://vactruth.com/2011/03/21/children-die-minutes-after-measles-vaccine-in-india/ 

It seems that I am the "enforcer" when it comes time to screen our preschoolers' immunization records.  It is not a responsiblity I enjoy; but, I have a new appreciation for the privilege it is to live where these vaccines are so readily available.

Berger, K.S. (2009).  The developing person through childhood (5th ed.).  New York, NY:  Worth Publishers.