DESPITE THE PANIC OF COMPLICATIONS Most parents in FBiH DECIDES TO VACCINATION OF CHILDREN

Despite the panic of the complications most parents in the Federation decides to vaccinate djeceSmanjen percentage of vaccinated children is a direct consequence of numerous campaigns against vaccination that in recent years the water in countries around the world, and this negative trend has not bypassed Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries in the region - said talking to news agencies etc. Sanjin Musa from the Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health.

He believes that media reports about cases of children who received the vaccine developed after a permanent disability, autism and other severe complications and illness, causing panic among parents who, for fear of possible side effects, refuse to vaccinate children.

The reluctance of parents

He states that in the Federation, however, most parents understand the value of immunization and opting for vaccination of children as a result of the analysis of implementation of immunization programs in the Federation.- Immunization coverage is between 80-90 percent, depending on the type of vaccine and the age when given the vaccine. Vaccination was carried out and in the private sector, particularly in larger cities, but data on the number vaccinated in the sector are not available. In 2016, problems with the procurement of vaccines solved - said dr. Musa.

The reasons why some parents are reluctant to vaccination of children, said Dr. Musa, part of a wider social phenomenon, and are related to the tendency to change the perception of risk, which are diseases that can be prevented by vaccines are considered less dangerous or low frequency (as a result of the success of immunization programs), unjustified fear of the vaccine, skepticism and distrust of public institutions and the pharmaceutical industry, the lack of adequate media support, was in search of sensationalism or insufficient training of journalists when it comes to issues related to health, and finally action antivakcinalnih lobbyists, primarily on the Internet and social networks.

- The term antivakcinalni lobbyist includes a person usually without formal medical or pharmaceutical knowledge, using the media to spread pseudoznanstvenih data and anecdotal evidence, challenging the official medical point of view - explains Musa.The consequences of non-vaccination have been declining quality of collective population immunity against certain infectious diseases, which threatens again sporadic or epidemic of disease that can be prevented by vaccination.

immunization program

- In an outbreak of measles in 2014/15. year, in Federation B & H were registered 5,103 cases, including 553 people were hospitalized. Complications are more common in children under five years and pregnant women - highlights Musa.Među parents "controversial" vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), explains Dr. Musa, in use fifty years.

- In 1981, a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is included in the immunization program. The introduction of measles vaccine has resulted in a significant reduction in reported cases of measles, mumps and rubella. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina nineties and basic vaccines for children has been compromised, leaving some children unprotected or incompletely protected. In the postwar period antivakcinalnim lobbying, which is delayed with respect to the countries of the West, and arrived in our country, the MMR vaccine has been linked with fear and controversy, which resulted in the lack of targeted include immunization - he said.

Commenting that the MMR vaccine, many parents are associated with autism, etc. Musa reminiscent of the article published in 1998, in which he expressed concern about the possible links between the MMR vaccine and autism. He points out that the article was withdrawn from the journal in which it was published for a number of subsequent failures found and irregularities, while the first author remained without a license for carrying out medical activities, and ten associates renounced article.

- The link between the MMR vaccine and autism was rejected, as has been proven many scientific studies - says Dr. Musa.

The World Health Organization estimates that during the period 2000th-2014th, vaccination against measles prevented from 17.1 million deaths ishoda.U ultimately dr. Musa recalls that in the Federation immunization mandatory, as well as in many other countries.

• 17 Sep, 2016
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