It’s O.K. to be concerned, but let’s be real!

[Discuss the challenges facing maternal-child nurses who are caring for the patients applicable to the subject selected by the group]

By Brent Edwards

Imagine a world where consumers knew all about the latest developments in preventative health. Such is the struggle in a nurse’s paradigm. Nurses have evolved from the traditional bed-side care manner who simply takes doctor’s orders, to health care providers whose ulterior focus is preventative health. With all the evidence revolving around the benefits of infant immunizations, it’s any wonder why everyone doesn't receive them. Well, as posted in the previous section, there are inherit risks, just like there would be in any drug, to immunizations. The benefits, however, far outweigh the risks. A once accepted wide skepticism demonstrating that perhaps autism and vaccinations were linked in 1998, has now been retracted by the same group who conducted the original study. To read more about that particular situation, you can visit this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/health/research/03lancet.html

When the benefits trump the risks of vaccinating your child, why is it people are still reluctant to get them? Nurses play a tremendous role in advocating immunizations for all families who are expecting children. Vaccinations can help fight against or prevent a number of diseases, such as: chickenpox, croop, diphtheria, measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, influenza, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, pneumonia, polio, rotavirus, rubella, shingles, tetanus, and yellow fever. Many people believe that if they simply show up to their doctor’s office when they’re sick then they’re doing their part. It’s not like vaccinations are a new trend in fitness or a recommendation for healthy eating, so people unbeknownst just live their lives like they normally would. Additionally, many have the philosophy that since most vaccinated protected diseases no longer exist in the U.S. then it’s pointless to receive them. Well, that reasoning is unsound and flawed. The reason they DON’T exist is because people do get vaccinations. If you were to take the average amount of individuals living in the impoverished countries, and cross study them with individuals in America, you would find that the underserved countries are rampant with these diseases. These illnesses, unless cared for, can take their toll: here is an article posted by the CDC that discusses an outbreak of MMR in San Diego, CA , in 2008: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm57e222a1.htm

Nurses often find themselves struggling to convince mother’s to vaccinate due to the unreputable information that exists on the wide world web . I salute people that take charge of their healthcare and their families healthcare, but an ‘opinion’ is not a fact. Take this website for example: http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Why-I-Don-t-Vaccinate-My-Children. After typing into google, ‘Why mothers choose not to vaccinate their infants’, this was one of the first links to be listed. Most people may read this and become convinced that immunizations are harmful to their children, even when the health care provider says otherwise. Nurses and doctors then have to explain and convince mothers that vaccinations have been proven. Nurses shouldn’t lie to their patients, but simply stress the benefits over the risks. Even the CDC admits that “No vaccine is completely safe or effective.” Then yet again, how you define safe alters your perception of as well. Did you know that approximately 350 people die a year from taking baths? Would you consider taking a bath safe? Common sense can tell you that taking a bath is a lot safer than not taking a bath. Although 350 people die a year from not taking a bath, the inherit risks of not taking a bath are much worse because you’re opening yourself to a wide variety of diseases. Then wouldn’t vaccinations fall under the same logic? Vaccinations save millions worldwide. Could you imagine if vaccinations didn’t exist? The population of the world would probably be cut in half.

Where nurses and healthcare providers struggle to advocate infant
immunizations, is not because the evidence suggest otherwise; It’s because the rampant misinformation that circulates the media. People hear one study, and instead of doing the research on their own, are convinced. The other day, I heard that the fluoride in toothpaste is actually a carcinogen. Does this mean I’m going to stop brushing my teeth? Sure, I want to hear what you have to say, but say it from WAY OVER THERE! My advice is: Let’s leave the decision making of whether to get immunized or not into the hands of the professionals. Healthcare providers are trained and knowledgeable about the care you or your child receives. I’ve never known a healthcare provider who has gone out of his way to consciously hurt someone. Ultimately, it’s your choice. What you want to do is what you’re going to do, and I’m fine with that. Just remember, in terms of vaccinations, your choice, or your lack of choice, can affect and harm others, severely.

Sources:

Atkinson, W. L., Kroger, A. T., Marcuse, E. K., & Pickering, L. K. (2006, December 1). General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Retrieved April 14, 2010, from CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5515a1.htm

Harris, G. D. (2010, February 2). Journal Retracts 1998 Paper linking Autism to Vaccinations. Retrieved April 18th, 2010, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/health/research/03lancet.html

Theeten, H. (2007). Infant vaccination coverage in 2005 and predictive factors for complete or valid vaccination in Flanders, Belgium: an EPI-survey. Science Direct.