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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Normal infants have the capability to develop responses to antigens at birth. Infants also start life with some immunoglobulin antibodies acquired from the mother. These antibodies cross the placental barrier, but not all types are transmitted equally. In particular, infants start with antibodies to viruses and gram positive organisms, but not to gram negative organisms. Infants have to be vaccinated to have protection against pathogens in which they lack antibodies to.
Before the advent of vaccination, a significant number of infant morbidity and mortality was documented. In 2002, the WHO estimated that 1.4 million deaths among children under 5 were due to diseases which could have been prevented by routine vaccines. This comprises 14% of global mortality in children under 5 years of age (DOH, 2011). Thus it is prudent to say that vaccine-preventable diseases have largely contributed to infant morbidity and mortality.
As a response to this public health dilemma, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Philippines was put into place in 1976. This aimed to give guaranteed access to routinely recommended infant and childhood vaccines. Currently, the program translated to a significant drop in the estimated number of under-five deaths worldwide. Since 1990 the global under-five mortality rate has declined by 47% from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 48 in 2012 (UNICEF, 2013). Hence, the program was deemed as a success
Putting the picture into a smaller scale, although the mortality and morbidity rate was a testament of the significant improvement and achievement of the program, there are still pertinent things to be undertaken and looked-up to. Millions of children under five are still dying each year from largely preventable causes for which there are proven, affordable interventions (Flores, 2012). Health officials should also focus on the compliance of each individual to the immunization
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Normal infants have the capability to develop responses to antigens at birth. Infants also start life with some immunoglobulin antibodies acquired from the mother. These antibodies cross the placental barrier, but not all types are transmitted equally. In particular, infants start with antibodies to viruses and gram positive organisms, but not to gram negative organisms. Infants have to be vaccinated to have protection against pathogens in which they lack antibodies to.
Before the advent of vaccination, a significant number of infant morbidity and mortality was documented. In 2002, the WHO estimated that 1.4 million deaths among children under 5 were due to diseases which could have been prevented by routine vaccines. This comprises 14% of global mortality in children under 5 years of age (DOH, 2011). Thus it is prudent to say that vaccine-preventable diseases have largely contributed to infant morbidity and mortality.
As a response to this public health dilemma, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Philippines was put into place in 1976. This aimed to give guaranteed access to routinely recommended infant and childhood vaccines. Currently, the program translated to a significant drop in the estimated number of under-five deaths worldwide. Since 1990 the global under-five mortality rate has declined by 47% from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 48 in 2012 (UNICEF, 2013). Hence, the program was deemed as a success
Putting the picture into a smaller scale, although the mortality and morbidity rate was a testament of the significant improvement and achievement of the program, there are still pertinent things to be undertaken and looked-up to. Millions of children under five are still dying each year from largely preventable causes for which there are proven, affordable interventions (Flores, 2012). Health officials should also focus on the compliance of each individual to the immunization
References: Department of Health. 2011. Expanded Program on Immunization. Retrieved November 30, 2013 from . Flores, H. 2012. UNICEF: Child mortality rates dropped by half. Retrieved November 30, 2013 from . Tai, C.M.C. 2010. Full Immunization Status: Its Association with Maternal Education and Decision Making Autonomy in the Philippines. Retrieved November 30, 2013 from . United Nations Children’s Fund. 2013. Levels and Trends in Child Mortality. United Nations Children’s Fund. 3 UN Plaza, New York, New York, 10017 USA. World Health Organization. N.D. How to Evaluate the Programme. Retrieved November 30, 2013 from < http://www.who.int/roadsafety/projects/manuals/alcohol/4-How%20to.pdf>.