Immunizations have always been very important to me because it protects my children from the disease in which they are being immunized against (Berger, 2009). Immunizations work by subjecting the body to a very tiny amount of inactive virus to help the immune system to create antibodies against the virus (Berger, 2009). Also by immunizing my children I am also protecting them from any possible complications from the diseases. This is especially important in my children because two of my children have asthma and one has Type I diabetes. When they get sick even from a cold, they are sick longer and have more issues involving their own ailments.
When investigating more about public health involving immunizations, I decided to research the Philippines because that is where my husband was born. The first site I found showed a similar vaccine schedule to the US, except had additional recommendations such as Typhoid and Meningococcal (http://www.babycenter.com.ph/baby/health/immunisationchart/). Immunizations requirements were first implemented before 1900 by the Spanish regiment. When the US took over and were established within the Philippines they began to try to get a handle on the outbreak of various diseases. The major disease at that time was smallpox. After they established their sources for creating the vaccines they proceeded to immunize more than 80,000 in the philippines (http://jhmas.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/1/1.full). In 1901 they established a new civil health organization to aid in the prevention and containment of disease. The doctors who would vaccinate were accompanied by soldiers and vaccinated the people without permission. This was done because the small pox kept recurring due to some avoiding the vaccines (http://jhmas.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/1/1.full). This marked the beginning of knowledge of science in these diseases for the Philippines. From this time in history has aided the future of the Philippines in keeping current with today's immunizations to help protect their citizens.
I will always remain an advocate for immunizations because in my mind the benefits outweigh the risks.
Resources
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person
through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
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