Sustainable Development Goals- Immunizations

Sustainable Goal Development Project on Immunizations

In this project proposal, the population health concern that has been chosen is immunizations. Immunizations or vaccination refers to the administration of various types of vaccines that have the ability to prevent various types of diseases. Most immunizations occur under the age of five years and are aimed at protecting against some serious and life-threatening childhood diseases. The diseases include measles, whooping cough or pertussis, poliomyelitis, tetanus, and tuberculosis (CDC, n.d.). Immunization works by stimulating the immune system of the person vaccinated so that it can produce natural antibodies against the disease against which they are immunized. Small doses of the weakened microbe that causes the disease are inoculated into the recipient of the immunization. For other vaccines, the dead organism is used. Vaccines have been found to be safe to use and effective in protecting against disease. For instance, according to the CDC there is no more polio in the United States thanks to immunization. In the same manner, smallpox was eradicated because of immunization (CDC, n.d.). This paper presents immunization as a global population health concern and discusses why it is important.Sustainable Development Goals- Immunizations

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Why Immunization Is Important

This choice of immunization as a global health concern is important because it addresses the health of entire world populations. The diseases against which immunization protects have the ability to present a global public health problem. This is especially true with the vulnerable population of children around the world. Also, if the diseases are eradicated in one part of the world and left unchecked in another, there will still be an ever-present risk that they will eventually be reintroduced to those countries. The justification or support for immunizations as an important global health concern comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. It states that there are at least five important reasons why all children around the world should be immunized (CDC, n.d.). These are:

1. Immunization saves lives: By protecting against life-threatening diseases such as pertussis and tetanus.
2. Vaccines are both safe and effective: Many years of research and trials are undertaken to assure efficacy and safety of vaccines before they are used.

• Immunization saves time and money: Immunizations are funded by the federal government. If a child is not vaccinated and contracts the disease that was to be prevented, the financial cost of treatment to the family may subject them to poverty. The child will also be kept out of school and the parents will also take time of work to care for the child.

1. Immunization protects loved ones: Immunization of eligible children and adults protects the vulnerable loved ones who may not have been immunized for one contraindication or another.
2. Immunization protects future generations: Just like smallpox was eradicated and now doesn’t worry this generation, current immunization efforts might protect future generations by allowing them not to worry about the current immunizable diseases through eradication.

Another source of support for immunization comes from GAVI, the Global Vaccine Alliance. It points out six reasons why immunization is important in the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals (Kelleher, 2020). Included among the six reasons is good health and well-being.Sustainable Development Goals- Immunizations

The Sustainable Goal that this global health concern of immunization addresses is goal number 3 – Good Health and Well-being (UNDP, 2021). It requires all countries in the world to promote healthy living among its population as well as ensure the well-being of its population at all ages. The audience for this message is healthcare consumers in the form of patients and clients.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (n.d.). Five important reasons to immunize your child. https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/cdcfivereasonstovaccinateyourchild.pdf

Kelleher, K. (2020). Achieving the sustainable development goals: Six reasons why immunisation matters. GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance. https://www.gavi.org/achieving-the-sustainable-development-goals-six-reasons-why-immunisation-matters

United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] (2021). What are the sustainable development goals? https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html

Sustainable Development Goals- Immunizations