Immunizations

Immunization is a process that is used to fight or immune ones to infectious diseases, by administrating a vaccine.  Immunization is important to me because I work with young children, and it is in my best interest that my students are healthy as possible. 

Getting immunized can help decrease childhood diseases in America.  I learned at a training I attended alone with other teachers that more than 70 infectious disease can cause major problems in young children health if they do not get vaccinated.  Following is a list of diseases that the vaccine prevent young children from getting: 





Measles

Mumps

Rubella (German measles)

Diphtheria

Tetanus

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Poliomyelitis (polio)

Varicella (chickenpox)

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis A

H. influenzae type b (a cause of meningitis)

Influenza (children aged 6 months to 18 years)

Pneumococcal disease

Meningococcal disease (recommended for all children ages 11 and up; recommended for high-risk children 2-10 years of age).

Rotavirus (children aged 6 - 32 weeks)

Australian Government has introduced reforms to Australia's family to increase immunization rates in their country.  They are allowed to claim Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebates if their children are current on their immunizations.  Child Care Benefit helps cover cost of child care, family day care, vacation care, after school programs, and pre-school.  Child Care Rebate is an addition to Child Care Benefit for approved care for each additional child. 



The impact immunization has on my job would be a higher spread of diseases; however my job has a written plan explaining the requirements that a child must meet in order to stay enrolled at Head Start.  If parents failed to get their children immunized most students will lack a good education due to more sickness.  As an educator the impact wold affect me as a teacher, because the need for teachers to teach will be very low and I may not have a job.