...Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations Review Shumetria Cleveland English 321 Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations Review Introduction Influenza is a highly, contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. It is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets by an infected person coughing or sneezing. Influenza is much more serious than the common cold and is preventable. Good hand washing, covering your cough, and good health habits will prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases. It is onset by chills, fatigue, high fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches are some sign or symptoms of influenza often referred to as the flu. The incubation period is one to four days. Each year, influenza causes a significant increase in illness and death. In the elderly, children, patients with chronic illness and immune compromised disease. Once in a while the influenza changes to a severe disease. In the early 1900 there was a pandemic that killed approximately 20,000,000 people. Scientist later discovered the bacterial that causes the virus by testing the blood. Today physicians are able to keep the bacterial infections under control with antibiotics. In 2009 the swine flu epidemic caused illness, stole lives and flashed a light on health care workers to get mandatory influenza vaccinations. Some institutions, for the first time, implemented policies for mandatory influenza vaccines for health care workers due to the escalation of the swine flu...
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...development of the flu vaccine in 1945 and documented as the first vaccinations were given to the soldiers in WWII. Many kinds of influenza vaccination studies have been done by medical research teams including the Center for Disease Control. The Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta analysis was researched by Michael Osterholm and his associates by reviewing over 5000 studies of the influenza vaccine. Many articles since then have commented on this meta-analysis and have gone further to expand the question of does the flu vaccine decrease pneumonia in the elderly. Results are such that the confounding conditions of the study needed to be adjusted fully and the studies re-evaluated. Another question arises. Does mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers decrease the spread of the flu virus within the hospital. Evidence for consistent high-level protection is elusive for the present generation of vaccines, especially in those at risk of medical complications and those aged 65 years or older. Does Science Support the Flu Shot? Since the discovery of the influenza virus and the subsequent development of the flu vaccine, has there been enough science research to support the effectiveness and efficacy of the flu vaccine? Influenza also known as the flu is a viral infection. The flu is caused by influenza viruses A and B, and to a much lesser extent C and there are many different strains of the flu virus every year...
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...symptoms of the flu, treatments that are currently available, and how your organization can help mitigate the spread of this disease. In preparing a report for leadership; I want to inform them on the symptoms and transmission of the flu. Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often fee some or all these symptoms: fever or feeling feverish/chills( please note that not everyone that have the flu will have a fever) Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Fatigue(tiredness) Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea( though this is more common in children than adults) Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. The flu is transmitted: Person to Person People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and...
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...symptoms of the flu, treatments that are currently available and how the organization can help mitigate the spread of this disease, develop four (4) questions or concerns that leadership in the organization will ask in regard to possible side effects of the treatments, propose three (3) lessons that have been learned from past flu seasons that will underscore the importance of preparing for the upcoming flu season and why these lessons are beneficial, propose two (2) recommendations to leadership on how to cope with the shortage of the flu vaccine, and compose an infection control policy for the local community. Identify The Transmission And Symptoms Of the Flu, Treatments That Are Currently Available, And How Your Organization Can Help Mitigate The Spread Of This Disease Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses and is often called flu. Flu is not a cold; it can be mild, severe and sometimes often results in death. When people got flu, they feel the following symptoms: • Fever or feeling feverish/chills • Cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose • Muscle or body aches • Fatigue or tiredness • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea The recovery time of influenza is usually less than two weeks but sometimes flu results in other health complications like pneumonia and other life-threatening diseases (Flu Symptoms & Severity, 2011). Flu can be transmitted...
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...The U.S. Government on Mandatory Vaccination What are vaccines? Vaccines contain a mixture of sugars, proteins, and certain chemicals that all serve a purpose in neutralizing the severely weakened or dead virus within. They are substances that are typically injected subcutaneously under the skin to trigger a bodily response. This response activates the creation of antibodies against the foreign compounds, which then leads to immunization from the desired disease. Although the modern story of vaccination began with Edward Jenner’s approach of introducing already infected material to a healthy subject to protect against smallpox, the idea dates as far back as 1000 B.C. in China. Before agreeing to the label of vaccination, it was generally termed inoculation. It was Jenner’s 1796 research that became the base for which smallpox ultimately became eradicated in the United States. Today we strive to advance our understanding of vaccinations to build a future free from diseases such as HIV, malaria, dengue, and RSV. Today, the government and its schools hold considerable responsibility in the control of preventable diseases. The initial mandatory vaccination laws were passed by Massachusetts in the early 1850’s. The vaccine law transpired because of the new mandatory school attendance law. It was passed in order to keep the growing number of school students safe from disease, and to halt the advancement of smallpox. Vaccines were never collectively respected though. The...
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...Introduction Rationale There are two primary reasons why healthcare workers (HCWs) have been targeted for influenza (flu) vaccination. The first reason is to protect HCWs from disease and to prevent work absenteeism, particularly during flu outbreaks or pandemics. The second motive is to protect others such as co-workers and family members, especially vulnerable patients in their care since HCWs can be a significant source of nosocomial spread of influenza. When a healthcare professional receives a vaccination, it sets an example for colleagues and others in the community and increases the likelihood HCWs will advocate for vaccination. Purpose of the Intervention The purpose of the proposed intervention is to maximize vaccination rates in...
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...University of West Georgia Professional Nursing Concepts (Nurs 4102) Professor J. Wilder, MSN, NP-C April 7, 2015 Part 4 – Immunity and Health Policy Vaccination has been known to provide immunity to a variety of illnesses, including influenza. To minimize influenza-related deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that vulnerable people and health care workers (HCW) be vaccinated against influenza annually (van den Dool, Bont, Hak, Heijne & Wallinga, 2008). A topic of debate between HCWs and healthcare facilities is the discussion over whether annual influenza shots should be mandatory. Multiple studies have been completed to determine if the benefits are substantial enough...
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...To immune or not to immune? Alicia Thornton Excelsior College Vaccines have been widely used in the United States since the 1700’s. The use of vaccinations has deeply affected the occurrence of many types of infectious diseases. Without the use of vaccines, the death rate from viruses and diseases would be extremely high. Due to a new strain of avian flu has formulated in China, I suggest that a vaccine should become mandatory in this United States in order to stop this virus from becoming a pandemic. It is important to remember the impact of what vaccines have done, how productive and unproductive our immune system are against infectious diseases, and the effectiveness of vaccines that has stopped our country from encountering a pandemic. The impact of vaccines caused some diseases to eradicate from the world. The last occurrence case of Smallpox was in 1977, and vaccination against smallpox stopped. The last occurrence of Polimyelitis in the United States was in 1979 and it is on the verge on eradicating. Because so many babies are born every day in the United States, it is still a need to continue vaccinating the population. There is a continuing threat that still exists from importation of diseases from other countries. Our immune system is a complex system consisting of interacting cells whose primary purpose is to identify antigens. However our bodies are not capable of fighting every virus or disease it encounters. Once a person encounters a certain disease...
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...occupational exposure to (and possible transmission of) vaccine-preventable diseases” including influenza (CDC, 2011, para. 5). Therefore, I chose to explore the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System...
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...with an infected person. -Schools are the perfect spreading grounds for infections -Incidence of common childhood illnesses such as polio, measles, tetanus, etc has significantly declined since the advent and use of vaccines. These diseases are unheard of nowadays. Picture of polio in africa eradication Pictures of polio graphs Slide 2 What are vaccines / how do they work? -Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. -Vaccines are a safe and cost-effective way to maintain public health and prevent diseases. -Discovered by Edward Jenner more than 200 years ago -Several ways of developing a vaccine -Possible options are to: Inactivate the virus, weaken the virus, use part of the virus/bacteria. Can be injected or induced orally. -Another option is to not get vaccinated, however this is not the smartest option. Slide 3 Possible side effects and disadvantages -Just like with most things, vaccines can be detrimental. -Rare for most vaccines, however some vaccines have higher likelihood of side effects -Influenza and HPV vaccines have low...
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...get immunised. Body It is thought that vaccinations can help stop, and even get rid of, nasty diseases. It is reported that “Polio, for example, was eliminated in the United States by 1979 after widespread vaccination efforts” - as quoted from historyofvaccines.org. But while some people vaccinate their children, others do not. (Research from the National Health Performance Authority has found 77,000 Australian children are not fully immunised. As reported by Amy Simmons for ABC News. April 2013) In numerous parts of the world, it is thought that people need vaccines to stop the spread of disease. While some countries aren’t plagued with deadly diseases, there are some countries that absolutely appear to need it. For example, Bolivia, Burundi, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Egypt are just a few of the countries plagued with Yellow Fever and Malaria. Experts say they need special vaccines to help slow down the spread of both diseases. They also claim that the usual symptoms of these diseases without being vaccinated against are high fevers, vomiting, muscle pain,...
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...4/27/15 “Vaccinate, Vaccinate!” I support that vaccinations should be mandatory because they can save children’s lives, they don’t include high amounts of harmful ingredients, major health organizations say that vaccines are safe, reactions to vaccines are rare, and that vaccines can protect the communities. To begin with, vaccines save children by 2.5 million per year. 285 children are saved from diseases for every hour due to vaccines. The CDC has said that 732,000 children were saved from death and that 322 million diseases were prevented from the years of 1994 and 2014. In addition, the ingredients in vaccines are safe in the amount used. Thimerosal, formaldehyde, and aluminum are used in safe amounts in vaccines. Most infant formulas have more aluminum than used in vaccines. Outside activities can expose you to more bacteria than vaccinations can. With the exception of inactivated flu vaccines, thimerosal has been reduced or completely removed in vaccines for children under six. The FDA test vaccines for more than 10 years until Riesgo 2 The vaccinations are licensed. Similarly, adverse reactions to vaccinations are extremely rare. The most common rare allergic effect of a vaccine is anaphylaxis. The reaction happens one per million vaccinations. The MRR vaccination does not cause autism and that the TDap vaccination does not cause type 1 diabetes. The combinations vaccines, such as MRR have not had adverse reactions since the mid 1940’s. Furthermore, vaccinations...
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...to Vaccinations in Children Almost everyone has heard of the benefits and dangers of childhood vaccines. Parents are especially eager to do what is best for their child to protect him or her. Some people have different opinions on what the best specifically entails when it comes to childhood vaccines. Vaccinations are a controversial discussion as parents question whether it should be mandatory or optional when they feel the cons outweigh the pros. The government says it is the right thing to do for parents and their families to remain safe from illnesses and diseases. However, there have been opinions of opposition voiced by parents and health advocates about whether or not it is worth the risk of being sick once vaccinated and whether these vaccinations actually work. The argument on both sides range from First Amendment right issues all the way to disabling health concerns. This essay will serve to examine and elaborate both the positive and negative perspectives on vaccinations in infants and children and why certain parents hesitate in vaccinating their children. The center of disease and control prevention(CDCP) claim there are five important vaccinations every child should receive. The chicken pox vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Vaccine, the Hepatitis vaccine, the haemophilus influenza type B(HIB) Vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The chicken pox vaccine is probably the most common immunization. Chicken pox is an airborne disease that spreads quickly...
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...Bird Flu of H5N1 virus threatens world pandemic Public health has traditionally been an area of concern as anything that poses a threat to humans should be considered a top priority societally. From a global standpoint if public health is neglected then the amount of preventable deaths would rise exponentially. In the past few years several events have been noted as threats to public health, but society had identified them quick enough so that the threat to humans was minimized. One such event occurred in 2006 and was known as the bird flu. Although there is currently no vaccine for this strain of bird flu the rapid identification of this deadly virus helped to minimize its spread. According to Medline, birds just like humans can be stricken with the flu but the virus historically only affected avian species without the potential to affect humans. This remained true until 1997 in Hong Kong when the first case of the avian flu was reported. This avian virus has the ability to mutate or change its genetic makeup so that it can be easily incorporated into the human genome, thus causing a new form of flu that can be deadly and difficult to treat. Since 1997 the avian flu has spread to several countries and has severely affected both the commercial poultry supply and humans alike. Although the viral transition to infecting humans is rare, the avian flu is responsible for approximately 600 infections since its inception with a mortality rate of 60% (National Library of Medicine...
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...Parents are deciding to not have children vaccinated, until 18. Vaccinations have been one of the world's greatest medical achievements. Being injected with a small portion of a virus so the immune system can learn to fight it off, seemed so effective. Parents fear that if children get injected there will be a higher risk of getting the virus. Certain programs do not make it easier with the decision either, making vaccinations a terrible idea, by ignoring the benefits and focusing on what harsh risk and side effects getting vaccinated can cause. In today's society hundreds of viruses have come to surface and getting vaccinated seems to be number one on the list to staying healthy. Public health officials have even made it mandatory to get vaccinated in order to attend school. Introduction Vaccinations have been created for immunity, but have the vaccinations been helpful or harmful? “Vaccinations have been known to protect children, allowing the immune system to get a trial run with unfamiliar germs. When put to the test, the immune system will be ready for war. Parents are very cautious about what is given or allowed to be done to children. Many parents are opposed to getting children vaccinated, fear of putting children more at risk to catch a disease. Parents need to take advantage of children getting vaccinated instead of going...
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