January 17, 2022
Do you guys still remember vaccination programmes in I/GCSE Biology?
Immunization Programs
- Protect against diseases common in children
- E.g. MMR (combination of Measles, Mumps and Rubella), gain immunity to this
- Have saved millions of children’s lives
- Enough people immunised =more difficult for virus to pass onto those who aren’t, carrier mostly comes into contact with immunised people
- 90% of population immunised = prevent epidemic
Concern about vaccines
- Unvaccinated children = likely to develop serious disease
- Whooping cough = long bouts of coughing/choking – hard to breath #
- Whooping cough can kill babies under 1
- Major outbreak = parents concerned on side effects
The MMR controversy
In I/GCSE Biology,
- MMR might trigger autism - Study based on 12 children
- In UK children receiving MMR dropped by 60% (2005), MMR jabs received raised to 98% (2010)
- No more studies have linked MMR and autism after that
- Parents think of children, government think of society as a whole
That's all~