A needle pricking the soft, unspoilt skin of your little one is always going to be an emotive subject for parents, which is why it’s easy to lose sight of facts when looking at vaccines.
As parents we all want what is best for our kids, but what are we to make of the controversies, and how safe are vaccines really?
Much of the uncertainty stems from the assertion by British researcher Dr Andrew Wakefield, that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is implicated in the development of autism in some children. Why put your child in harm’s way for something that has not even happened yet? A raging debate flared up BUT, fact is: There is NO evidence of a connection between MMR and autism, and according to Prof Anna-Lise Williamson of the University of Cape Town’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Science, it is completely irresponsible to push this point.
In total some 75 000 children in South Africa die before their 5th birthday; most of these deaths are either preventable or treatable. Although most babies are born with protection against certain diseases which they get from antibodies from their mother’s placenta, this protection is not sufficient when it comes to certain diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization currently saves an estimated 3 million lives per year worldwide. It is easy to forget how deadly children’s diseases can be. A disease such as measles can be very dangerous, and could even cause death. Did you know that in the past 16 years, vaccines have helped to eradicate one disease (smallpox,) and are close to eradicating another (polio)? Polio cases have declined by over 99%! Global measles mortality has declined by 74% and the pertussis vaccine alone saves over 600 000 children each year! How could we ignore these stats?
Furthermore, adolescents and adults can now be protected against life-threatening diseases such as meningitis, influenza, and cancer (cervical and liver cancers), thanks to new sophisticated vaccines.
The WHO has a clear policy which encourages vaccination worldwide, especially for the six diseases covered by the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) launched in 1974 – measles, polio, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis. South Africa follows the recommendations of the WHO and all vaccines used in the EPI in South Africa are manufactured to strict safety guidelines and are evaluated by the Medicines Control Council. (Go to our website: www.fedhealth.co.za for your baby’s vaccination schedule.)
But, how do they work and are there any side effects? Vaccines “teach” the immune system to recognise and fight certain germs, bacteria, and viruses before a particular disease can a gain foothold. By giving your baby a small sample of the germ, he or she should develop a resistance to it, without actually contracting the disease.
The benefits of preventing disease with a vaccine far outweigh the risks. Any medicine can cause reactions, but serious vaccine side effects are very rare.
The South African Government currently spends more than 80 million on vaccines. The Department of Health provides free vaccinations to all infants and children up to the age of 12 years at local clinics and community health centres across the country.
Global/African vaccination week is celebrated in the last week of April and aims to promote one of the world’s most powerful tools for health. Protect the ones you love – vaccinate.
Source: www.dosomething.org, www.who.int/features/factfiles/immunization/en/, www.unicef.org, www.kznhealth.gov.za, www.gov.za, www.westerncape.gov.za, www.health24.com, www.littlelife.com, www.gems.gov.za, futurism.com, www.immunizeforgood.com
