The document discusses childhood immunization schedules and the benefits and risks of immunization versus the risks of diseases. It provides the recommended immunization schedule in the UK and explains that immunizations protect both an individual child's health as well as the health of others by helping to eliminate diseases. While immunizations carry small risks like fever or soreness, the diseases themselves pose much higher risks including death in some cases. The importance of immunization is evidenced by examples of disease outbreaks prior to widespread immunization. The document also discusses the discredited claim by Dr. Wakefield linking the MMR vaccine to autism and common reasons some people oppose immunization despite the lack of evidence that vaccines are dangerous.

1. Childhood Immunisation Alanna Corbett

2. Childhood Immunisation Immunisation schedule Benefits Risks MMR Debate Reasons for opposing immunisation

3. Immunisation Schedule 2 months – diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib; polio and meningitis C 3 months - boosters for above 4 months – boosters for above 12-18 months – measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) 4-5 years – diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster; MMR booster, Hib booster

4. Benefits of Immunisation Child’s health Eradication of disease Protection of others

5. Risks of immunisation Inflammation at injection site Low grade fever Joint pain Nausea Headache Crankiness

6. Risks of disease Men C – fever, red or purple rash, death Hib – inflammation of brain, throat swelling and suffocation, pneumonia, infection, death Diphtheria – growth in throat and suffocation, paralysis, death (in 7% of cases) Tetanus – muscle spasms, breathing problems, convulsions, death if untreated Whooping Cough – coughing fits, convulsions, coma, brain damage, death

7. Risks of disease Polio – Fever, vomiting, muscle stiffness, nerve damage, muscle paralysis, death if lung muscles paralysed Measles – High fever, cough, conjunctivitis, red rash, pneumonia, inflammation of brain, brain damage, death Mumps – fever, infection of salivary glands, deafness, swollen testicles (in males), infertility, brain inflammation Rubella – swollen glands, joint pain, rash, birth defects in unborn children – including blindness, deafness, mental retardation

8. Why is immunisation important? 1998/9 – 1500 cases of Men C & 150 deaths 1:600 children under 5 affected by Hib until vaccine introduced 23 cases of diphtheria in England and Wales in 1999 – 52,000 cases and 1700 deaths in Russia in 1995

9. Why is immunisation important? 800,000 babies die every year in developing countries from tetanus because of low or no vaccination 100 children died in late 70s and early 80s & 18 children died between 95 & 97 from whooping cough – not vaccinated 2000 cases of polio round the world in 1999 In 1873, 7,500 Fijians died from measles after a ship carrying the disease docked there.

10. Why is immunisation important? Mumps can still cause serious complications such as; pancreatitis, deafness and miscarriage Before immunisation, rubella was a common cause of deafness

11. MMR debate Dr Andrew Wakefield published a study stating a link between MMR and autism Only one study of 12 children in Japan Numerous studies carried out since No link proven – MMR safe Autism symptoms show around same time MMR given

12. Usual reasons for opposing immunisation Religious reasons It isn’t natural The diseases don’t exist any more Vaccines don’t work Overload of child’s immune system Alternatives – breastfeeding and organic food Homeopathic and herbal “Alternatives” Childhood diseases are trivial

13. Childhood Immunisation Benefits to child’s health Benefits to health of others Eradication of disease No proof vaccines are dangerous

14. Any questions?