Vaccination is a critical step in the healthcare industry, as it saves millions of lives every year. However, research proves unexpected outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) in recent years (Kubin, 2019). The reasons for this trend are problems with the quality and distribution of drugs, the transformation of immunity, and imported cases. Thus, vaccinations should be updated with relevant information on infectious outbreaks and medical innovations.
Public health is an unstable goal, as it is often a choice problem. Vaccinations are the subject of heated debate in society because of their effectiveness, philosophical rationale, and religious relevance. It has been noted that VPDs are undergoing a new outbreak for several reasons. Vaccine compliance is the percentage of children who received the required drugs as scheduled. Besides, vaccine completion results from a previous process in which children are diagnosed as VPDs-protected according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) guidelines. One of the markers of the danger of infection is under-vaccination, which is the period a child spent without a drug in violation of the established plan. These three terms explain delays caused by drug shortages or parental refusals.
VPDs outbreaks are attributed to microbial evolutionary changes and vaccination failures. First and foremost, the resurgence of measles, mumps, and pertussis is due to affordable travel to countries with high infection rates and outdated drugs (Sabbe & Vandermeulen, 2016). Despite the confirmed extinction of these diseases, evolved species have spread to the United States. Proven reduced immunity in children and frequent parental refusals to dose contribute to infectious disease outbreaks. Nurses should be aware of the risk of mass infections and contribute to public health while respecting family choices. Informing audiences about outbreaks, expressing understanding of parental fear, and advising on vaccinations are healthcare providers’ primary goals. Thus, the resurgence of measles, mumps, and pertussis can be suppressed in the long term due to the combined efforts of immunologists and clinical practitioners.
Federal law is decentralized concerning vaccination requirements and reasons for justified refusal. Each state has exact dose requirements for students and certain professions, but it varies based on personal preference. Forty-five states and Washington D.C. allow vaccine refusal due to religious objections, while 15 also permit exemptions for philosophical reasons (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2020). Texas, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and others accept personal beliefs as sufficient reason to reject injection. However, accurate information and support for families should be provided in any location regardless of their preference.
VPDs become increasingly dangerous to public health due to deteriorating vaccine quality, reduced immunity, and refusal to dose. Imported cases are one of the causes of measles, mumps, and pertussis outbreaks in the US, but they have just begun a chain of medical system failures. Forty-five states and Washington D.C. view family preferences as a sufficient reason to refuse the vaccine, which cannot be sufficiently regulated by the government. Therefore, healthcare providers must be objective and inform families regardless of their philosophical views.
References
Kubin, L. (2019). Is there a resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases in the U.S.? Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 44, 115-118.
National Conference of State Legislatures (2020). Non-medical state exemptions from school immunization requirements [Image]. Web.
Sabbe, M., & Vandermeulen, C. (2016). The resurgence of mumps and pertussis. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 12(4), 955-959.