The US and Canada is experiencing the largest outbreak of measles in the
last 15 yeas. So far, 214 people in the US have been affected and 757
in Canada; the norm is somewhere between 60 and 70 on a yearly basis.
The outbreaks were likely caused by travelers coming home from
overseas, Western Europe, Africa, and Asia, and by too many children
being unvaccinated. The CDC and local healthcare facilities were able
to contain the outbreaks, keeping them relatively small. Most of
those who got sick were not vaccinated against the disease. The
vaccine, which came out in the 1960s, is safe and effective in
preventing the disease as well as mumps and rubella. Most children
are vaccinated by the time they are 5 or 6 years old. However, at one
time the vaccine was said to cause autism in children, though it has
never been proven. The vaccination rate is around 90 percent in the
US and because of this the outbreaks were kept small. Officials say
that had the outbreak occurred in areas with low vaccination rates,
that the disease would have spread very quickly due do its high
contagion-ability. Health officials also stress the importance of
vaccination, not only to help protect the individual, but also those
around them; to help prevent spreading the disease in the first
place.
To us in the United States, vaccines are just a part of growing up. We get
them as infants, toddlers, before we go to kindergarten, for the flu,
and various other diseases. All we have to do go to the nearby health
department, our local doctor's office, or even just walk into the
nearest pharmacy and we can get almost any vaccine on the spot.
However, some people/parents choose not to get vaccinated or to get
their children vaccinated for various reasons, which would seem fine
since most of the diseases and infections we vaccinate against are
rare. But when outbreaks occur they risk infection, not only for them
but others. While we have immediate access, people in other parts of
the world (Western Europe, Africa, and Asia) don't have access to
vaccines and have to worry about these diseases on an almost daily
basis. We take for granted all the opportunities that are given to
us, when there are others that have nothing compared to what we have
here. The discrepancies in the distribution of world healthcare is
shocking and the gap, that should and needs to be shrinking, is still
growing despite worldwide efforts. And its sad when we don't take
advantage of what we are allotted when others would kill to have what
we have.
them as infants, toddlers, before we go to kindergarten, for the flu,
and various other diseases. All we have to do go to the nearby health
department, our local doctor's office, or even just walk into the
nearest pharmacy and we can get almost any vaccine on the spot.
However, some people/parents choose not to get vaccinated or to get
their children vaccinated for various reasons, which would seem fine
since most of the diseases and infections we vaccinate against are
rare. But when outbreaks occur they risk infection, not only for them
but others. While we have immediate access, people in other parts of
the world (Western Europe, Africa, and Asia) don't have access to
vaccines and have to worry about these diseases on an almost daily
basis. We take for granted all the opportunities that are given to
us, when there are others that have nothing compared to what we have
here. The discrepancies in the distribution of world healthcare is
shocking and the gap, that should and needs to be shrinking, is still
growing despite worldwide efforts. And its sad when we don't take
advantage of what we are allotted when others would kill to have what
we have.
http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/hsn/unvaccinatedkidsbehindlargestusmeaslesoutbreakinyearsstudy
1 comment:
Jayne,
I am glad you posted this current event because I was unaware there was a large pandemic of measles. The key message here is that “many people who contracted the virus were not vaccinated.” I believe that vaccines are critically imperative to the health and well-being of the human race. I also believe that different strands of many diseases are going to come back even if vaccinated. For instance, the bubonic plague is still found in some countries, therefore, that means there are still strands alive however our lifestyle combats it. However, with time it will come again. I agree with you when you say it’s sad that we do not benefit from the things we are allotted in our country. For instance, many of my friends haven’t been vaccinated against H1N1 and the other various forms. Many do not get vaccinated because of cost. It is sad that healthcare is not a basic human right in this country.
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