I recently read about several new cases of Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type B) bacterium in Minnesota and was struck by the similarities between this situation and the problems that have been experienced in the eradication of polio (see my earlier post). It is not yet clear whether this is a pattern that is occurring elsewhere in the U.S., or if it's unique to Minnesota.
Hib can cause fatal infections; immunization is effective against it. Minnesota health officials speculate that reluctance of parents to have children immunized may play a role (the vaccine is in somewhat short supply too). Parental refusal has also played a role in Pakistan, India, Nigeria and other countries where new cases of polio still occur (the other obstacles to progress are war and the remoteness of some areas). It's also been reported lately that in some areas of the U.S. and Europe - notably, those where a high percentage of parents have declined immunization - measles is cropping up again.
In light of evidence that incomplete immunization of the population can open the door to a resurgence, the trend of parents refusing to permit their children to have immunizations disturbs me. We've got new diseases to worry about, from HIV to ebola and BSE, but we can't afford to be complacent about the older ones. Perhaps we take too much for granted today. Most parents today don't recall how prevalent diseases like smallpox and polio were just fifty years ago, and how many victims they claimed. They're not much in the news any more but they could very rapidly become threats.
I know there's some concern about side effects or future complications, but as far as I'm aware, these are mostly unsubstantiated or extremely rare (depending on the disease), while the effects of neglected immunization are well documented, and often potentially fatal.
Universal immunization against preventable diseases is the one contagion we should want to spread.
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