CCC Natural Immunity vs Vaccines Discussion

1. Discuss the risks versus benefits of childhood vaccines.

With the help of modern medical technology, dangerous diseases that were used to be incurable in the past have now been preventable and treatable with the discovery of vaccines. Infectious diseases will always be present in the history of humankind as they evolve into stronger strains. While there are controversies surrounding the constitutionality of vaccination, it is undeniable that this preventive strategy has demonstrated safety and efficacy, despite the rare adverse effects which are multifactorial. 

2. Discuss the ethical implications of vaccinations.

Under the ethical principles of non-maleficence and beneficence, healthcare professionals have an important ethical responsibility in the protection of the community by helping prevent the spread of infections and other diseases. However, one of the dilemma behind vaccination is the conflict in individuals right to autonomy. When vaccination becomes mandatory, some may feel coerced or threatened of restrictions if they fail to comply, such as termination or suspension of employment. As a whole, the most dominant principle concerning vaccination is beneficence through achieving balance between the benefit and harm when a dilemma arises (Jalilian et.al, 2023).

3. Discuss teachings you would use to help guide this mother with vaccinations.

Being the trusted source of information on vaccines, our recommendations are important for vaccine acceptance. Counseling parents is the first step in establishing vaccine confidence. There are multiple approach in communicating the benefits of vaccination such as presenting multiple evidenced-based literatures and studies proving the safety and effectiveness of vaccines (Shen & Dubey, 2019). When a provider spends time to discuss vaccination while addressing parent’s concerns, it helps with establishing trusting relationship with the parents. Honesty is also important. Vaccines might result in mild side effects and very rarely serious adverse events, but reassure that vaccines had undergone robust clinical trials to make sure that is safe for use by the public.

4. What is a catch-up vaccination schedule when the mother decides to vaccinate?

          Catch-up vaccinations are immunizations that are given when an individual missed a scheduled immunization for some reasons so as to get the optimal protection against diseases. The CDC provides a clear guidelines on catch-up immunization schedules. It will be based on the previous documented dose the person has received. It is important to note that as the child gets older, vaccine doses may change or he/she may not need any dose because they become less vulnerable to certain diseases with age.

5. Briefly discuss vaccination opt-out in the state you practice in.

In the state of Georgia, it is allowed to get exempted from vaccination under medical or religious grounds (GDPH). Medical exemption is valid if the child has certain condition that is contraindicated with immunization. Parents or guardians must furnish the school/facility with a notarized affidavit stating that immunization conflicts with his or her religious beliefs.

6. What is natural immunity and is it better than vaccination?

While both are beneficial in the overall health, there are strong evidences that natural immunity that is acquired from previous infection from certain disease yields a superior protection over vaccination. For instance, a retrospective observational study conducted by Gazit et.al (2021) demonstrated that natural immunity provides prolonged protection against COVID infection for individuals who had previously contracted the virus. Nevertheless, CDC recommends receiving vaccination for greater protection especially the vulnerable groups. 

References:

Center for Disease Control. Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Who Start Late or Who Are More than 1 Month Behind. Accessed at October 17,2023 in https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/catchup.html

Gazit, S., Shlezinger, R., Perez, G., Lotan, R., Peretz, A., Ben-Tov, A., Herzel, E., Alapi, H., Cohen, D., Muhsen, K., Chodick, G., Patalon, T. (2022). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) naturally acquired immunity versus vaccine-induced immunity, reinfections versus breakthrough infections: a retrospective cohort study. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 75(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciac262

Georgia Department of Health. Immunization Guidelines for Schools and Childcare Facilities. https://dph.georgia.gov 

Jalilian, H., Amraei, M., Javanshir, E., Jamebozorgi, K., Faraji-Khiavi, F. (2023). Ethical considerations of the vaccine development process and vaccination: a scoping review. BMC Health Services Research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09237-6

Shen, S., Dubey, V. Addressing vaccine hesitancy. Canadian Family Phycisian. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6515949/.