One of the
subjects covered in my team report was the very controversial topic about
Immunisation. Our analyses
was in favor of the topic and explained all the benefits and the importance
about vaccines in New Zealand. Coincidentally enough, not long after we submitted
our report, I heard the news on TV about the measles outbreak in the United
States.
From January 1
to January 23, 2015, 68 people from 11 states in the U.S. were reported to have
measles (CDC). Most of these cases are part of a large, ongoing outbreak that
began at Disneyland in Southern California and U.S health officials say that it
continues to spread across the nation.
The outbreak
was said to have started after an
unvaccinated California woman apparently transmitted the virus through airports
and the theme park, health officials said.
The CDC calls
measles the “most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses” and the virus
is highly contagious and is transmitted through an infected person’s coughs or
sneezes.
Vaccines are said
to be 99% effective. However, a recent anti-vaccination movement in the U.S has
falsely and misleadingly linked autism to the vaccines and even though there are
no background or scientific evidence to support this claim, parents aren’t vaccinating
their children anymore.
This
anti-vaccination movement is happening in many other countries around the world
and immunizations rates are dropping. This is very concerning because many
children are being put at risk of contracting diseases due to the lack of
information and ignorance.
Cases like this
measles outbreak in the U.S could have been completely avoided since vaccination could have
prevented the outbreak.
Hi Ana, this outbreak had to have been expected in America with the current low immunization rates. Late last year there were worries about low rates in wealthy parts of California as very few children from wealthy families were getting their childhood vaccines because parents believed the vaccines weren't necessary. This shows how important it is to be vaccinated and it is not necessarily those from low income families at risk.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right Nicole. This is an issue that affects all social classes and only comes to show how the lack of proper information can cause serious problems.
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