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Introduction
Pediatrics has its roots in preventive care, and vaccination stands out among the most imperative approaches in the avoidance of diseases in children. The decrease in illnesses and mortality over the previous century because of routine childhood vaccinations is extremely exceptional. Smallpox has been eliminated across the world, while infections, for example, polio, diphtheria, and congenital rubella, are virtually not found in North America. Other serious conditions, for example, measles, pertussis, and Haemophilus flu type b disease, have been drastically reduced to the extent where they no longer present any risks to families. However, some new developments have been witnessed. Measles, a disease once proclaimed eradicated in the US, was recently reported in more than 30 states. Miami perhaps is at higher risk for infectious childhood diseases. Many children in Miami now have not received their life-saving shots due to parental refusal or hesitation. This trend is now a growing case of a concern, and the outcome is a general vaccination rate on the low end too low to prevent outbreaks.
Moreover, children interact with others, it is feared that risk factors increase since many individual schools over the districts miss the mark on the target of immunization. From the period of Edward Jenner in 1796, public issues concerning the adverse outcomes of vaccination, both genuine and anecdotal, have always been observed. This essay presents the controversial issue of childhood vaccination as a healthcare priority policy issue that requires the immediate attention of legislators. In this regard, the vaccination priority policy issue appeals to Frederica Wilson, a South Florida Democrat, to spearhead legislation that would mandate immunization for all children joining public schools because it is the most important public health initiative to stop infections.
Controversies Regarding Vaccines
Vaccines contrast with different medications as they are administered to a great many healthy people, typically children, to counteract illnesses that may no longer present a critical risk. Concerns about the safety of vaccines are in this way are legitimately sound, and, when possible, safety issues emerge, they should be researched expeditiously and thoroughly. Most of the concerns about immunization adverse outcomes have emerged accordingly based on reports that indicate a relation between vaccine and advancement of a temporal uncommon condition for which the cause presently remains obscure (Miller, 2015). Additionally, the claim that vaccinations are associated with autism has been disapproved with available scientific findings (Kuwaik et al., 2014).
A study by Harmsen et al. (2013) determined that refusal to accept immunization was associated with many factors, such as family way of life; concerns regarding childrens body and defence system; supposed risks of infection, immunization adequacy, and symptoms; alleged benefits of suffering the illness; earlier adverse outcomes with immunization; and social condition.
Health Outcomes of Rejecting Vaccinations
An intractable dismissal of immunization, regardless of strong evidence of its safety, is harmful. It puts the person at elevated danger of illness and further exposes vulnerable populations. For instance, the case of measles outbreak in San Diego where the designated case was a purposefully not vaccinated child who contracted the virus while travelling outside the US, 75% of subsequent infections were correspondingly not vaccinated because of refusal, with one hospitalization of affected newborn child who was too young for immunization (Miller, 2015). This case demonstrates the risk associated with the refusal of vaccination.
Notwithstanding the clinical results of such infections, there are financial effects because of the broad general public measures that should be set up to restrict transmission and protect the vulnerable populations. Subsequently, measles, for instance, which is exceptionally infectious and can spread extreme fast among a population with low immunity, returned with severe consequences in the US. Following a period of 14 years with no acute measles mortality, the resurgence related with the rejection of immunization prompted a higher rate of morbidity in children who were not vaccinated and, thus, they contracted the disease (Miller, 2015).
Communicating the Need for Vaccinations
There is no single solid way to communicate with parents who reject or are reluctant to immunize their children. Indeed, some findings suggest that underscoring the risk of not immunizing might be counterproductive (Miller, 2015). It has been observed that parents consider physicians of their children as the most trusted sources of information regarding the safety of vaccines, it is essential that pediatricians and general practitioners have more current information concerning vaccines to advice their clients appropriately.
Additionally, proving specific information for specific parents or children is equally imperative. While trying to give health experts a framework for engaging with parents, it is imperative to determine their convictions regarding immunization. It is therefore observed that sufficient information is necessary to change initiate appropriate discussion and change convictions of such parents.
Mandatory Immunization
As the legislator Frederica Wilson has proposed, making immunization obligatory by law is usually regarded as a method for enhancing usage and handling with the issue of unwillingness or rejection to vaccinate (Miller, 2015). Although a persons right to freedom of choice is an essential rule, an individual who declines immunization presents a danger to self and to populations with low immunity (Miller, 2015).
Upholding individual liberty is vital in a free society. Nonetheless, power can be used purposefully and rightfully against any persons in civilized society against their will to avert harm to themselves and others. As such, there is a moral and ethical justification to ensure compulsory immunization.
Individuals who now reject vaccination are increasing seen as free loaders. That is, they practice their rights to reject immunization safe with the knowledge that risk to their own children is extremely low due to herd immunity offered by other people who have their children immunized.
In the European Union, for instance, mandatory vaccination programs are found at least in 14 nations from 27 (Miller, 2015). Such laws are supported with severe legal consequences of failure to comply, including stiff pecuniary penalties, challenges to get admission with public schools, or even a jail term for parents. Other consequences are less severe, including persuasion on moral grounds.
The thoroughness with which mandatory immunization is upheld likewise changes and, clearly, there is no certain proof from European nations that mandatory immunization fundamentally improves vaccination. Moreover, mandatory vaccinations are rare globally (Yaqub, Castle-Clarke, Sevdalis, & Chataway, 2014).
Conclusion
The findings clearly demonstrate that the current crisis associated with the refusal or hesitancy to accept immunization based on unfounded safety issues is now a major contributing factor responsible for the growing number of unvaccinated children in Miami, and the State of Floridas inability to attain immunization objectives. As such, Frederica Wilson and other legislators should make vaccination a health policy priority issue for the state to ensure mandatory vaccination.
References
Harmsen, I. A., Mollema, L., Ruiter, R. A., Paulussen, T. G., de Melker, H. E., & Kok, G. (2013). Why parents refuse childhood vaccination: A qualitative study using online focus groups. BMC Public Health, 13, 1183. Web.
Kuwaik, A. G., Roberts, W., Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Smith, I. M., Szatmari, P.,& Brian, J. (2014). Immunization uptake in younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 18(2), 148-55. Web.
Miller, E. (2015). Controversies and challenges of vaccination: an interview with Elizabeth Miller. BMC Medicine, 13, 267. Web.
Yaqub, O., Castle-Clarke, S., Sevdalis, N., & Chataway, J. (2014). Attitudes to vaccination: A critical review. Social Science & Medicine, 112, 111. Web.
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