Immunisation Vaccine Analysis
Immunisation protects people against harmful disease. It uses the body’s natural defence to build resistance to specific infections (Australia Government Department of Health, 2013). It was Edward Jenner who developed the first vaccine in 1976 against small pox. Centuries later the next vaccine was developed by Louis Pasteur. This was the anti-rabies vaccine (Lombard, Pastoret, & Moulin, 2007). It was these two men who gave hope to other scientist for the development and prevention of other infectious diseases for years to come. There are many different types of vaccines available in Australia today. Currently, the ‘Immunise Australian Program’ offers vaccination against thirteen different diseases; haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B,
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It is through child immunisation that several of the diseases, that have once killed or injured many infants and children, have been greatly reduced or even eliminated. One example of this is Smallpox which was declared to be the first disease eradicated in 1980. This viral infection left a skin rash and scars over many people and also killed millions during a widespread epidemic (Hildreth, Burke, & Glass, 2009). Furthermore, there are still viruses and diseases causing sickness and even death that can be vaccine-prevented. Polio causes acute paralysis, physical disabilities, and even death in more children than adults. Many that do survive this disease are left in braces, crutches and even wheelchairs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). Since the ongoing attempts of Polio eradication, successful efforts have resulted in a decreased number of cases from 350,000 in 1988 to 1294 in 2010. (The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2011). Another of these deadly diseases reduced by vaccination is measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that develops with a high fever and rash, has life threatening complications, including blindness, severe diarrhoea, and pneumonia. Before the measles vaccination became available there were 130 million measles cases and 16 million cases of measles related deaths. Today with immunisation available, the number of measles cases are decreasing rapidly and measles eradication efforts are being made. (Gounder,
It is through child immunisation that several of the diseases, that have once killed or injured many infants and children, have been greatly reduced or even eliminated. One example of this is Smallpox which was declared to be the first disease eradicated in 1980. This viral infection left a skin rash and scars over many people and also killed millions during a widespread epidemic (Hildreth, Burke, & Glass, 2009). Furthermore, there are still viruses and diseases causing sickness and even death that can be vaccine-prevented. Polio causes acute paralysis, physical disabilities, and even death in more children than adults. Many that do survive this disease are left in braces, crutches and even wheelchairs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). Since the ongoing attempts of Polio eradication, successful efforts have resulted in a decreased number of cases from 350,000 in 1988 to 1294 in 2010. (The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2011). Another of these deadly diseases reduced by vaccination is measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that develops with a high fever and rash, has life threatening complications, including blindness, severe diarrhoea, and pneumonia. Before the measles vaccination became available there were 130 million measles cases and 16 million cases of measles related deaths. Today with immunisation available, the number of measles cases are decreasing rapidly and measles eradication efforts are being made. (Gounder,