Disneyland Vaccination Analysis

The recent outbreak of measles in Disneyland, California has refueled the debate over mandatory vaccinations of children in the United States. Between the dates of January 1 and January 28, 2015, a total of 84 people in 14 states were reported to have measles, and most of these cases were linked to the multistate outbreak that began in Disneyland theme parks in California (CDC, 2015). According to Dr. Anne Schuchat, the assistant surgeon general of the United States Public Health Service and director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, measles was declared 'eliminated' in the U.S. due to a strong immunization system and high vaccination rate (CDC, 2015). Typically outbreaks, such as the one in Disneyland, …show more content…
Vaccinations have become one of public health's greatest achievements and are considered the most inexpensive way to prevent infectious disease (Willey et. al, 2014). In general a vaccine is a preparation of one or more microbial antigens that induces protective immunity in the host (Willey et. al, 2014). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, immunity is the process by which the immune system “remembers” an antigen that enters the body again, and allows the immune system to produce antibodies fast enough to prevent disease (CDC, 2014). In general, vaccines work by mimicking disease agents and stimulating the immune system to mount a response against the disease agents, similar to what would happen if you were naturally exposed to a disease. A vaccine acts as a pathogen-imposter by tricking the body. Pathogens are covered with antigens that are able to trigger a specific immune response (Willey et. al., 2014). Vaccines expose the body to antigens similar to the pathogen's antigens, thus priming the immune system to respond rapidly and efficiently in the future. Immunity can either be active, by getting a vaccination that mounts an immune response, or by actually getting the disease itself. Immunity can also be passive, such as the passing of antibodies from mother to baby during breastfeeding (Willey et. al., …show more content…
Typically, the preservation of public health, and the authority to create laws governing vaccinations, has been the responsibility of state and local governments, meaning that requirements vary on a state-by-state basis. In 1827, Boston was the first U.S. city to require vaccinations against smallpox for public school students and since then other cities have introduced and amended policies as newer vaccinations have become available (Cole and Swendiman, 2014). The U.S. Immunization policy is developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the CDC, which reviews scientific information and creates evidence-based recommendations for the use of licensed vaccines in different age groups (Roush et. al, 2007). The information from that advisory committee is then discussed by legislatures in each of the states to determine which are considered mandatory for school children and health care workers. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has the authority to issue regulations deemed necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States or from state to state under the Public Health Service Act (Cole and Swendiman, 2014). Under the HHS authority, soldiers are required to receive all

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Disneyland Vaccination Analysis

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