Childhood immunisations Flashcards
How do we know that vaccines work and are safe?
Measured effectiveness using:
* Antibodies
* Epidemiological assessment - population trends, decrease in cases etc
Safety:
* Animal trials
* Human trials
* Post marketing surveillance
Efficacy monitoring:
* National institude of biological standards and control
What happens when immunisation rates are high?
Herd immunity - wider community is protected including:
* Infants who are too young for vaccines
* Older adults at risk
* People who take medication that suppresses immune system
How many vaccines do we currently offer in UK?
Vaccines that protect against 26 diseases
Other benefit of vaccines
Limit spread of antibiotic resistance by preventing disease in the first place
5 facts of vaccines
- Safe and effective - rigoursly tested, reassesed, monitored, investigate any side effects
- Prevent deadly illnesses - MMR, pertussis
- Vaccines provide better immunity than natural infections - less risky too, lots of adverse effects of diseases
- Combined vaccines are safe and beneficial
- If we stop vaccinating diseases will return
Benefits of immunisation
- Economic benefit is high - keeps people in work, reduces need for childcare for illness etc
- Prevents illness and reduces burden on healthcare system
- Not being ill = children cognitive skills improve quicker
- Physical strength of children develops quicker
- School performance is improved
- Decreases antibiotic resistance
Where to fund vaccine policy and guidance in UK?
JCVI - Joint comittee on vaccine and immunisation
The Green Book
Where to fund up to date info on childhood vaccine schedule?
NHS website
Government website
What case is famous for reducing uptake of MMR vaccine?
Andrew Wakefield case - did small study on 12 people which was published in the lancet suggesting there was a link between MMR and autism
This has now been disproved with many other good quality studies and shown to be a poor study funded by parents of children with autism (creating a conflict of interest)
What is vaccine hesitancy?
Delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despote availability of vaccination service
Includes factors such as complacency (do not believe they need it if disease is not prevalent), convenience and confidence
What do you need to do to ensure vaccine hesitancy is minmised and people are well informed?
Understand - understand specific vaccine concerns - allergy? disease causing? etc
Stay on - clear language to present evidence of vaccine benefits and risks accuratley
Inform - parents of rigour of testing vaccines etc
Address - isses of pain with immunisation
Address - issies that natural disease is better than vaccination = wrong, more risky could end up with life long deformity etc
