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The irony of vaccination is that its very success makes it seem irrelevant and unnecessary. The same though is true of public health. Sadly, very few members of the taxpaying public really understand why a public health department is necessary these days. Public health is a small percentage of local government, yet I think a survey of the public would reveal a great deal of willingness to cut public health expenditures, as opposed to cutting money for police or fire protection. This strikes me as a bit odd, because all these functions are really about the same thing--public safety and well being.
Public health is about disease prevention. Whether that prevention be by vaccination, chlorinating and purification of water, inspecting food vendors and restaurants, building and plumbing codes, requiring education and licensing of food handlers, or fluoridation. All of these measures save thousands of lives every year and per dollar spent save more lives than physicians and hospitals do.
I hate to stereotype, but what I have often found is that those who argue against vaccination are really opposed to the whole concept of public health. They think it is "socialistic" for government to undertake disease prevention measures. Perhaps, some think that is a respectable point of view. Most people view it as sheer nonsense. Disease prevention can only work if there is some central power in society that has the authority to mandate or require certain measures.
Ideally, education could better inform people of all of this. If I were to state a problem or deficiency in public health, it is that the people who work in it have not done a better job of educating the public as to the importance of specific measures. Without public support all the good that has been done in the last 120 years could rapidly disappear. That's what is not understood.
Whatever the case, it is innocent children that will likely pay the greatest price for this ignorance.
And I surely hope my statements didn't come across as "blaming" healthcare professionals. I have created many a brochure, flyer and copy for websites re: info on vaccinations, childhood illnesses, etc. Healthcare professionals have their hands tied w/ parents who refuse to make sensible decisions about their children's health.
I know the material is out there and in public health offices, physician offices and hospitals, besides being on websites. But nurses can't force parents to avail themselves of the knowledge - all they can do is point the way. So I hope what I wrote did not imply a lack of caring and deep concern on the part of healthcare professionals.
Not at all. Part of the problem is that the anti-immunization crowd talks about these diseases as if they are a mere inconvenience. Pertussis, they will tell you, is like a bad cold, many diseases had begun to disappear before immunization, "only" a small percentage of polio patients actually get paralysis, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
The irony of vaccination is that its very success makes it seem irrelevant and unnecessary. The same though is true of public health. Sadly, very few members of the taxpaying public really understand why a public health department is necessary these days. Public health is a small percentage of local government, yet I think a survey of the public would reveal a great deal of willingness to cut public health expenditures, as opposed to cutting money for police or fire protection. This strikes me as a bit odd, because all these functions are really about the same thing--public safety and well being.
Public health is about disease prevention. Whether that prevention be by vaccination, chlorinating and purification of water, inspecting food vendors and restaurants, building and plumbing codes, requiring education and licensing of food handlers, or fluoridation. All of these measures save thousands of lives every year and per dollar spent save more lives than physicians and hospitals do.
I hate to stereotype, but what I have often found is that those who argue against vaccination are really opposed to the whole concept of public health. They think it is "socialistic" for government to undertake disease prevention measures. Perhaps, some think that is a respectable point of view. Most people view it as sheer nonsense. Disease prevention can only work if there is some central power in society that has the authority to mandate or require certain measures.
Ideally, education could better inform people of all of this. If I were to state a problem or deficiency in public health, it is that the people who work in it have not done a better job of educating the public as to the importance of specific measures. Without public support all the good that has been done in the last 120 years could rapidly disappear. That's what is not understood.
Whatever the case, it is innocent children that will likely pay the greatest price for this ignorance.
"Bingo" on the first bold!
Re: the second, I agree. When I worked in public health, patients would come in to the imm clinic, sent by the schools. (Not all patients, of course) The RWs would biatch that school immunization requirements were a government plot to infringe on their freedom. The far LWs would say the same thing.
The irony of vaccination is that its very success makes it seem irrelevant and unnecessary. The same though is true of public health. Sadly, very few members of the taxpaying public really understand why a public health department is necessary these days. Public health is a small percentage of local government, yet I think a survey of the public would reveal a great deal of willingness to cut public health expenditures, as opposed to cutting money for police or fire protection. This strikes me as a bit odd, because all these functions are really about the same thing--public safety and well being.
Public health is about disease prevention. Whether that prevention be by vaccination, chlorinating and purification of water, inspecting food vendors and restaurants, building and plumbing codes, requiring education and licensing of food handlers, or fluoridation. All of these measures save thousands of lives every year and per dollar spent save more lives than physicians and hospitals do.
I hate to stereotype, but what I have often found is that those who argue against vaccination are really opposed to the whole concept of public health. They think it is "socialistic" for government to undertake disease prevention measures. Perhaps, some think that is a respectable point of view. Most people view it as sheer nonsense. Disease prevention can only work if there is some central power in society that has the authority to mandate or require certain measures.
Ideally, education could better inform people of all of this. If I were to state a problem or deficiency in public health, it is that the people who work in it have not done a better job of educating the public as to the importance of specific measures. Without public support all the good that has been done in the last 120 years could rapidly disappear. That's what is not understood.
Whatever the case, it is innocent children that will likely pay the greatest price for this ignorance.
What an ignorant attitude, indeed! I see the public health system as the way to guarantee that no child falls under the healthcare radar.
Folks were quite dismissive and smug when I took my son to the public health department for his innoculations. "That is only for the dregs of society." Heck no! The vax are there for everyone to access - my tax dollars help pay for them. This is a community health benefit, to help us all live healthier lives.
What an ignorant attitude, indeed! I see the public health system as the way to guarantee that no child falls under the healthcare radar.
Folks were quite dismissive and smug when I took my son to the public health department for his innoculations. "That is only for the dregs of society." Heck no! The vax are there for everyone to access - my tax dollars help pay for them. This is a community health benefit, to help us all live healthier lives.
Exactly! Most vaccines are made by one or two manufacturers; there is no difference between the vaccines supplied to the health departments and those sold to physicians.
Most health department immunization nurses are very knowledgeable about vaccines, frequently moreso than office nurses.
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