Childhood
Immunisation By James Anthony
In
18th Century Britain the biggest killer was not cancer or heart
attacks, but a very nasty disease known as smallpox. Smallpox
killed 10% of the entire population and in the unsanitary areas of
towns and cities that death toll rose to almost one in five people.
Sufferers would be covered in 6mm wide and deep blisters -
sometimes causing blindness - and while in most cases they dried and
fell off only leaving bad scars, in extreme cases victims died of blood
poisoning, infection, or internal bleeding. One way
doctors tried to reduce the effects of smallpox was to scratch small
pieces of scab from a person with a mild case of the disease into
someone's skin. This basic attempt at easing the effects of smallpox
was called variolation. In 1786 Edward Jenner began
working on an old country theory that anyone who had suffered the mild
disease cowpox would not get smallpox. After researching the matter he
gave a boy the non-threatening disease cowpox and when the lad was
variolated with smallpox he did not come down with the disease.
Despite its proven medical value, Jenner's treatment did not
get received with open arms. It was opposed by religious leaders - for
cheapening humans with something from lesser creatures - and doctors
who had previously made a very healthy living out of variolation.
It was not until 1853 that vaccination with cowpox (vacca is
Latin for cow) was made compulsory in Britain. Even then, the
anti-vaccination movement took to the streets to try to force the
Government to reverse its decision. In today's
modern world there are still many people who oppose vaccinations for
children, fearing the side effects that can strike a small percentage
of young ones. Governments and health authorities, however, are hugely
in favour of childhood immunisation and say that the benefits are so
one-sided the risks are very small. When a child is
immunised - whether by injection or oral medicine - a small amount of a
specific disease is introduced to trigger the body's natural defence
system to resist the infection. There are nine
diseases - ones causing serious harm or even death - that can be
avoided by having the immunisation and they are diphtheria, tetanus,
whooping cough, poliomyelitis (polio), measles, mumps, rubella,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B. The
most common side effects children face with immunisation are soreness,
redness as well as some swelling near the injection area and possibly
mild fever, which can usually be dealt with using paracetamol. If more
serious problems are noted then parents should go to the doctor
immediately. These cases, however, are noted by authorities as being
"very rare". Just as extreme reactions against the
vaccinations are rare, health figures show that not every child will be
protected - although more than 95% are shown to be. Experts say that
while a fraction of those who have been treated may still get a disease
it will not be anywhere near as severe than if they hadn't been.
If your child has not had immunisation started according to
the schedule, or if doses have been missed, then it is not a major
problem as a new timetable can be worked out. Keep
the records of your child's treatment as many Australian states require
evidence of immunisation when your child starts school. As with
anything medical you must consult your doctor for more detailed
information. Schedule
for immunisation in Australia: -
Birth: Hepatitis B. 2
months: Hep B, Diptheria, Tetanus & Acellular
Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Hib, poliomyelitis (oral). 4 months: Hep B, Diptheria, Tetanus
& Acellular Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Hib, poliomyelitis
(oral). 6 months:
Hep B, Diptheria, Tetanus & Acellular Pertussis (Whooping
Cough), Hib, poliomyelitis (oral). 1
year: Hep B, Hib, measles, mumps & rubella,
Meningicoccal C. 4 years:
Diptheria, Tetanus & Acellular Pertussis (Whooping Cough),
poliomyelitis (oral), measles, mumps & rubella. 10-13 years: Hep B. 15-17 years: Diptheria, Tetanus &
Acellular Pertussis (Whooping Cough). 65
years+: Influenza. The
Australian Department of Health website says children should still be
immunised, even if:
other family members had reactions following immunization.
there is a family history of convulsions.
they have had whooping cough, measles, rubella or mumps.
they are premature.
they have cerebral palsy or
Down's syndrome.
have asthma, eczema, hay fever
or have a cold.
are on antibiotics.
their mother is pregnant.
they are being breast fed.
they were jaundiced after birth.
they are over the age recommended in the vaccination schedule.
they have had, or about to have, surgery.
they are of low weight. The
Diseases
Diphtheria: causes difficulty in swallowing, breathlessness
and suffocation. About 7% of people catching the disease will die.
Tetanus: Now rare in
Australia, but causes breathing difficulties, painful convulsions and
abnormal heart rhythms.
Whooping Cough: Very dangerous to infants under a year old.
Complications include convulsions, pneumonia, coma, inflammation of the
brain, permanent brain damage and long-term lung damage. If caught, it
will kill one in 200 children under six months old.
Poliomyelitis: Since immunisation was introduced
this killer has been almost eradicated. Polio has not been reported in
Australia since 1986. Polio can affect the nerves - paralysing
breathing and swallowing - and cripple victims. It kills one in 20
people hospitalised with it and half of those who survive suffer
permanent paralysis.
Hepatitis B: A quarter of Hepatitis B sufferers are
likely to develop liver cancer or have liver failure later in life.
Every Australian child has been offered immunisation since 2000.
Rubella (German
measles): The biggest danger of rubella is to pregnant women
whose babies can be badly affected. Hearing loss, cataracts, heart
defects and mild to severe damage to the brain and central nervous
system. Medical advice is to get your rubella immunity tested before
getting pregnant.
Mumps: In 1/20,000 cases deafness can be caused, and
it is fatal in 1-3/10,000 cases. In men mumps can cause sterility, but
it is rare, while in women they can cause painful ovarian swelling.
Links:
Immunise.health.gov.au
The
Edward Jenner Museum
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