Immunization

I chose immunization for my topic this week. This topic has been in the news in the last year because of controversy surrounding possible side effects of getting children immunized. I firmly believe that all children should get immunized. Why take a chance that a preventable disease could harm your child? Small pox was eliminated because of immunization. Other diseases like polio are extremely rare in the US because people are vaccinated against it. The CDC argues that by vaccinating we are protecting our future (www.cdc.gov/vaccines).

Immunization has been in the news recently as well because of attacks on workers administering a polio vaccine in Pakistan. Pakistan is one of three countries in the world where cases of polio still occur. Afghanistan and Nigeria are the other two. The vaccine is 99% effective if a full course of 4 doses is administered. The Pakistan workers were going house to house to vaccinate the children who live there. Gunmen fired on teams in 4 separate attacks. Six people died as a result with others injured. It is believed that the Taliban are responsible. They have stated that they believe the vaccination program is an espionage effort by the USA. India has recently announced that they will start a polio eradication campaign this year. More than 170 million children under the age 5 will be immunized. I find it hopeful that countries are taking this seriously. There is no need for children to suffer from this disease.

I will use this information to encourage parents to immunize their children. I have many cultures in my classroom and this means different attitudes towards immunization. Learning about how vaccines work and the success rate means that I can confidently recommend that parents participate when they ask for my advice.

References

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Birth

I have chosen to have no children of my own. My sisters both live about 4000 km away so the only birth I have ever been present for was my own. I obviously have no memories of the event. My mom has always teased me that it was the first and only time I was early for any event. My dad told me I was born in a snowstorm. I was born in a hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. I am the oldest child in my family so for my parents it was a first. My dad was with my mom for the delivery. My mom and I stayed in hospital for 2 or 3 days. From the lens of child development birth is an important step. The bond between mother and child is begun. In my case, the stereotypical family was created. Parents always count toes and fingers, make sure the nose and eyes are placed properly, and see that all the body parts are present. Even in this age of images in utero, seeing is believing.

I now live in the Netherlands. I have heard many birth stories from my colleagues here. They all gave birth at home with a midwife. Their husbands were part of the process and they were up and about within hours of the birth. Although the birth itself is never without worry, work and pain, a home setting gave these moms a relaxing place that was familiar to them. I don't believe that either way of giving birth is better than the other. I think it is a choice a couple should make. In some births, the older siblings are also present and part of the process. In terms of future development, I think the bonding with the parents is more important than the actual birth except in cases that have complications. When there are complications, I think medical care is vital in shaping the path the child's development will take.