Evidence Based Practices in Epidemiology, Research Paper Example

Vaccinations across all age groups represent a significant opportunity and a challenge for medical experts and clinicians. It is important to identify some of the issues that exist that impact children and adults and what is required to ensure that there are benefits associated with the use of vaccinations on a recommended basis. From an epidemiological perspective, vaccinations should be considered for their value in fighting specific diseases and improving overall health and wellbeing for individuals. This requires an understanding of the advantages of vaccinations and the evidence-based knowledge that is available in order to effectively promote this process on a continuous basis. Most importantly, healthcare experts must be able to demonstrate and provide integral evidence regarding the value of vaccinations and the need for additional resources to improve the utilization rates of vaccinations that will have a lasting impact on designated population groups.

Vaccinations influence a variety of different population groups from infants and young children to older adults; therefore, experts in the field must be prepared to promote vaccinations and their benefits to those who might question their overall advantages and impact on health. Therefore, it is important to identify these circumstances and to evaluate evidence-based practices that have an impact on outcomes for all age groups. For example, the World Health Organization has established a group known as the Strategic Group of Advisory Experts in Immunization (SAGE) in order to address policy development directly associated with vaccinations (2014). Much of the work performed by the WHO is at the global level; therefore, it requires an examination of different perspectives and evidence that has been collected at the global level in order to effectively promote vaccinations as a viable means of promoting health and wellbeing for populations throughout the world (WHO, 2014).

It is known that “Today, children, adolescents, and adults can receive immunizations to protect against 17 infectious diseases once common in the United States. Immunizations are one of the most successful and cost effective public health interventions in history” (Astho). In essence, it is necessary to evaluate the conditions under which vaccinations are critical to the successful health and wellbeing of populations and in transforming the dynamic which exists between primary care providers and patients in many communities (Astho). This perspective requires an open-minded approach to managing the health of populations who face a variety of health risks and a high degree of vulnerability relative to patient outcomes. It is imperative that prior evidence is utilized in favor of expanding knowledge and resources among primary care providers to administer vaccinations to large groups of people and to be cognizant of the resources that are necessary to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities to improve vaccination rates in the most vulnerable populations across the globe. It is imperative for primary health providers to examine the needs of specific populations and to be aware of the challenges that prevail, while also recognizing the public health importance of this process and its influence on health outcomes.

When vaccinations are either unavailable or are not taken advantage of, there is a much greater risk for many populations of contracting any number of diseases or becoming generally vulnerable to disease over the long term. One of the critical opposition factors against vaccinations is a greater risk of autism, which is reflected in the lack of understanding or acceptance of vaccinations for many young children, particularly those who are affected before the age of three (Miller & Reynolds, 2009). As a result, it is important to identify the different factors which influence decision-making regarding vaccinations and the risk of autism, as this reflects a greater need to evaluate this risk from an evidence-based perspective and to determine what steps are required to reduce the perception of risk associated with these vaccines for children (Miller & Reynolds, 2009). Most importantly, vaccine safety must be taken into consideration as a larger public health issue that will directly impact how parents make decisions regarding vaccinations for their young children and whether or not it involves a higher level of risk not to vaccinate children than to assume the potential risk of autism if vaccinations are administered (Miller & Reynolds, 2009). Parents must be prepared to accept evidence-based knowledge from their healthcare providers and aim to be proactive in making wise decisions for their children that are likely to improve their long-term health (Miller & Reynolds, 2009). In this context, the risks and benefits of vaccinations must be identified and evaluated in order to make effective decisions that will positively impact the circumstances at a high level and promote a positive set of results to influence the lives of young children.

In spite of the benefits of vaccinations, their risks must also be determined, as this must be part of any discussion of the public health factors related to these tools. According to the Institute of Medicine, “Vaccines are not free from side effects, or “adverse effects,” but most are very rare or very mild. Importantly, some adverse health problems following a vaccine may be due to coincidence and are not caused by the vaccine” (2011, p. 1). In this context, it is important to be able to identify the specific risks that are associated with vaccinations and to also be prepared to manage the outcomes that are related to these vaccines so that patient health is not compromised in the process of decision-making regarding vaccinations that will improve general health and wellbeing (Institute of Medicine, 2011). These factors reflect a need to be cognizant of the evidence that exists in regards to the side effects of vaccinations and whether or not it is sufficient to outweigh their benefits, as this evidence will go a long way in determining which steps are required to facilitate increased vaccination rates, particularly in populations where the need is greatest (Institute of Medicine, 2011). In addition, it is important to identify the specific areas where vaccinations will improve the general public health of a community or population at the highest possible level and how this will impact outcomes. In other words, side effects must be closely examined and supported by evidence, but they should not be the only issues related to vaccination administration. Perhaps most important is that there must be a greater focus on the development of strategies to improve vaccination rates and to recognize that the side effects do not typically outweigh their benefits. As a result, populations are better served when they recognize the value of developing new strategies to improve rates, particularly for young children and also older adults.

The significance of vaccinations for the general population should not be ignored, as they provide a means of understanding how public health concerns are influenced by these tools. Experts at the local, national, and global levels must reflect upon the benefits of vaccinations and what is required to ensure that populations in need of these services are supported by their expansion and availability to improve overall health and wellbeing. There must be a greater focus on the continued growth and development of resources and education to target populations in need of vaccinations and whose health will benefit on a long-term basis. This practice will ensure that patient outcomes are effective and will be supported by the continued development of factors that will recognize the value of evidence-based practice and solutions in order to effectively manage populations whose health would otherwise suffer as a result of limited access or availability of vaccinations.

There must be a significant emphasis placed upon the value of vaccinations and how they fill a public health void in many regions and across populations. This will ensure that vaccinations are examined on a more proactive basis and will aim to demonstrate their value more effectively and without delays. It is imperative to address the value of patient care outcomes and in supporting the continued growth of primary care and public health efforts to administer vaccinations on a larger scale to the populations most in need. These factors will aim to impact how individuals respond to the threat of infectious disease and what is required to reduce these threats over time. From this perspective, it is necessary to develop new ideas and approaches to these tools and in meeting expectations to identify and manage public health needs more effectively.

It is important to identify the resources that are available from an epidemiological perspective to address vaccination rates and to be cognizant of the opportunities that exist to improve vaccination rates so that the most vulnerable populations are able to overcome adversity and public health crises if they have received these vaccinations at the desired rates. Most importantly, it is necessary for public health experts be proactive in educating the general public and healthcare professionals regarding the importance of vaccinations so that they are able to convince the general public of their value and significance in improving health and wellbeing. There must be a greater focus on the role of vaccinations in reducing the risk of infectious disease and the overall development of other factors that will influence how vaccinations are viewed by the general public and by those within the healthcare community. The public health threat of disease must take center stage and provide a means of recognizing infectious diseases and their long-term impact on outcomes for patients. It is imperative to recognize the value of expanding knowledge and resources to improve vaccination rates and to allocate resources in accordance with the demand for populations who face significant risks when they are not vaccinated under a variety of circumstances that impact their general health and wellbeing in different ways.

References

Astho. Public health and primary care partnerships: immunization. Retrieved from http://www.astho.org/Immunization/Public-Health-and-Primary-Care-Integration-Immunization/

Institute of Medicine (2011). Adverse effects of vaccines: evidence and causality. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/adverseeffects.pdf

Miller, L., & Reynolds, J. (2009). Autism and vaccination – the current evidence. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 14(3), 166-172.

World Health Organization (2015). Guidance for the development of evidence-based vaccine-related recommendations. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/immunization/sage/Guidelines_development_recommendations.pdf