Monday, November 30, 2009
Finlands Health Care System
Since becoming an independent state in 1917, Finland has managed to progress and maintain a very well built health care system. Finlands Health Care is directed by Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and there are 450 municipalities.Finland has specialist health care, primary health care, family doctor health services available to all financial status'. Health care centers are responsible for routine care such as health counseling, examinations, and screening for diseases. Also provide school health care services, home care, dental work, and child and maternal care. Also a participant in the World Health Organization program.
Local authorities are responsible for the majority of health services. The entire population is covered by health insurance, including compensations for lost earnings and treatment costs. Health care services are free, subsidies from the national government were required to augment the financial resources of municipalities. It comes from state taxes, tax revenues, and private health services. Subsidies varied according to the wealth of the municipality and ranged roughly from 30 to 65 percent of costs. By mid-1980s, about 40 percent of the money spent on health went for primary care, compared with 10 percent in 1972. Passage of the Sickness Insurance Act in 1963 and frequent expansion of it's coverage meant good medical care was available to everyone.
The most important cause of death in the nineteenth century was pulmonary tuberculosis. Smallpox and pneumonia also ceased to be serious problems. Most common causes of deaths were first cardiovascular diseases, followed by neoplasms(malignant and benign), accidents, poisonings, trauma from external causes(including suicides), and lastly diseases of the respiratory system. With all of these causes of deaths Finland has been very successful in one major area: that would be the prevention of infant mortality, Finland has the lowest infant mortality rate.
Life expectancy in Finland in mid-1980s:
Women: 78.1 years compared to Swedish women of 79.6 years
Except for coronary illnesses, which Finnish women died 50 percent more
often than Swedish, Finnish female mortality mattched that of Sweden.
Life expectancy in Finland now:
Women: 81% Men: 73%
But men are deteriorated by Cardiovascular diseases, alcohol, and accidents
The National efforts to improve living habits have included campaigns against smoking, restraints on the consumption of alcohol, and better health education in schools.
Childhood Vaccination Schedule:
Summary chart
Abbreviations
D: Diphtheria vaccine (normal dose)*
d: Low dose diphtheria vaccine (booster dose)*
T: Tetanus vaccine (normal dose)*
t: Low dose tetanus vaccine (booster dose)*
aP: Acellular pertussis vaccine (normal dose)*
ap: Low dose acellular pertussis vaccine (booster dose)*
Local authorities are responsible for the majority of health services. The entire population is covered by health insurance, including compensations for lost earnings and treatment costs. Health care services are free, subsidies from the national government were required to augment the financial resources of municipalities. It comes from state taxes, tax revenues, and private health services. Subsidies varied according to the wealth of the municipality and ranged roughly from 30 to 65 percent of costs. By mid-1980s, about 40 percent of the money spent on health went for primary care, compared with 10 percent in 1972. Passage of the Sickness Insurance Act in 1963 and frequent expansion of it's coverage meant good medical care was available to everyone.
The most important cause of death in the nineteenth century was pulmonary tuberculosis. Smallpox and pneumonia also ceased to be serious problems. Most common causes of deaths were first cardiovascular diseases, followed by neoplasms(malignant and benign), accidents, poisonings, trauma from external causes(including suicides), and lastly diseases of the respiratory system. With all of these causes of deaths Finland has been very successful in one major area: that would be the prevention of infant mortality, Finland has the lowest infant mortality rate.
Life expectancy in Finland in mid-1980s:
Women: 78.1 years compared to Swedish women of 79.6 years
Except for coronary illnesses, which Finnish women died 50 percent more
often than Swedish, Finnish female mortality mattched that of Sweden.
Life expectancy in Finland now:
Women: 81% Men: 73%
But men are deteriorated by Cardiovascular diseases, alcohol, and accidents
The National efforts to improve living habits have included campaigns against smoking, restraints on the consumption of alcohol, and better health education in schools.
Childhood Vaccination Schedule:
Summary chart
Abbreviations
D: Diphtheria vaccine (normal dose)*
d: Low dose diphtheria vaccine (booster dose)*
T: Tetanus vaccine (normal dose)*
t: Low dose tetanus vaccine (booster dose)*
aP: Acellular pertussis vaccine (normal dose)*
ap: Low dose acellular pertussis vaccine (booster dose)*
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
IPV: Inactivated polio vaccine
MMR: Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine
MMR: Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine
RTV:Rotavirus vaccine
BCG: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine
The Finnish Childhood Vaccination Schedule:
At birth: BCG
2 months: RTV
3 months: DTap, Hib, IPV, RTV
5 months: DTap, Hib, IPV, RTV
12 months: DTap, Hib, IPV
14-18 months: MMR
4 years: DTap, IPV
6 years: MMR
6 years: MMR
14-15 years: dtap
The Finnish Childhood Vaccination Schedule as on 4 September 2009
1)DTaP, IPV and Hib are given as a single pentavalent vaccine.
2)DTaP and IPV are given as a single tetravalent vaccine.
3)The first dose of RTV is recommended before the age of 12 weeks, but not earlier than six weeks. Also, the child should not be older than 26 weeks (i.e. 6.5 months) when the third dose is given.
4)BCG is given only to children considered high-risk groups.
Additional comments:
Hepatitis B vaccine is given only to infants of HbsAg carrier mothers or fathers at the age of 0, 1, 2 and 12 months.
Influenza: Vaccination against seasonal influenza is given to children 6-35 months of age annually since autumn 2007.
Tick-borne encephalitis: A primary vaccination campaign with three doses against TBE is scheduled until end 2010 for children over 7 years of age living the geographic high-risk autonomous region of Åland.
Historic changes:
1960: Mumps vaccinations for military recruits.
1975: Measles vaccination for 1 year old children.
1975: Rubella vaccination for 11-13 years old girls and seronegative mothers.
1982: Two doses of MMR vaccination at 14-18 months and 6 years of age were introduced in the national childhood vaccination programme.2009: Rotavirus vaccine introduced at 2, 3 and 5 months to all children (September 2009)
Finnish Health Policy:
Lengthen the active and healthy lifetimes of citizens, to improve quality of life, and to diminish differences in health between popular groups.
Effectiveness of Vaccinations
Vaccinations have been credited with helping to reduce the risk of illness and disease. But the question that never seems to be answered is how well do these vaccines work. An article published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services answers this question for several common illnesses that have vaccinations.
The first of the illnesses that they present is that of Influenza type B. Their study shows that sens 1991 the number of cases has dropped 98.62%. Influenza is not the only sickness that has had drastic decline in cases because of vaccination. Sense the 1960's measles, mumps, and rubella cases have all decreased by over 99%. Pertussis has decreased over 97% sense the 1920's and Polio has been irradiated in the United States because of vaccinations.
The first of the illnesses that they present is that of Influenza type B. Their study shows that sens 1991 the number of cases has dropped 98.62%. Influenza is not the only sickness that has had drastic decline in cases because of vaccination. Sense the 1960's measles, mumps, and rubella cases have all decreased by over 99%. Pertussis has decreased over 97% sense the 1920's and Polio has been irradiated in the United States because of vaccinations.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Earth Charter and Vaccinations
The Earth Charter is a document promoting equality, the global community, freedom, and respect for our Earth. Vaccinations and getting vaccinated are a large part of the Earth Charter. In the Principles of the Earth Charter there are many mentions of health and environmental safety that could be partly accomplished by getting everyone vaccinated.
In I.1.A the charter states, "Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of it's worth to human beings." This relates to vaccinations because since we are interdependent if one of us does not get vaccinated we could potential infect others and possibly kill off a large part of our population.
In I.2.A the charter states, "Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people." This relates to getting vaccinated because if a large number of people die due to an infection that could have been prevented then we could potentially cause environmental harm with all our decaying bodies. Not only would we hurt the environment but we would also hurt ourselves and innocent lives that could be infected by different diseases from the decaying bodies.
In II.6.C the charter states, "Ensure that decision making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities." A person must consider all others when they decide to get or not get vaccinated. If a person does not get vaccinated their consequences could be dire for the rest of the world.
To comply with the Earth Charter and make our world a better place we need to get vaccinated and to eradicate disease from this world. In doing so we will be able to sustain lives, help eradicate poverty, and make the world a better place in general. To not get vaccinated has dire consequences of which all cannot be foreseen.
In I.1.A the charter states, "Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of it's worth to human beings." This relates to vaccinations because since we are interdependent if one of us does not get vaccinated we could potential infect others and possibly kill off a large part of our population.
In I.2.A the charter states, "Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people." This relates to getting vaccinated because if a large number of people die due to an infection that could have been prevented then we could potentially cause environmental harm with all our decaying bodies. Not only would we hurt the environment but we would also hurt ourselves and innocent lives that could be infected by different diseases from the decaying bodies.
In II.6.C the charter states, "Ensure that decision making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities." A person must consider all others when they decide to get or not get vaccinated. If a person does not get vaccinated their consequences could be dire for the rest of the world.
To comply with the Earth Charter and make our world a better place we need to get vaccinated and to eradicate disease from this world. In doing so we will be able to sustain lives, help eradicate poverty, and make the world a better place in general. To not get vaccinated has dire consequences of which all cannot be foreseen.
Monday, November 23, 2009
History of Vaccinations for Minnesota
In 1967, the Minnesota Legislature enacted the Minnesota School Immunization Law (Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.15). At that time, many states were encouraged to enact measles requirements as part of a national effort to improve measles control. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, measles was a disease primarily of unvaccinated school-age children. In studies of states without measles immunization requirements, measles incidence rates were from 1.7 to 2.0 higher than states that had school immunization laws.
Minnesota’s School Immunization Law has been amended numerous times to remain consistent with current immunization recommendations and to address gaps identified through enforcement. Specifically, these amendments made the law consistent with recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the U.S. Public Health Service’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Minnesota Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (formerly the Minnesota Immunization Practices Task Force) of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The school law has always allowed exemptions for medical and religious reasons.
Minnesota’s School Immunization Law has been amended numerous times to remain consistent with current immunization recommendations and to address gaps identified through enforcement. Specifically, these amendments made the law consistent with recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the U.S. Public Health Service’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Minnesota Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (formerly the Minnesota Immunization Practices Task Force) of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The school law has always allowed exemptions for medical and religious reasons.
Below is a summary of the various provisions of the law and the year they became effective.
1967
- Required measles immunization prior to kindergarten.
1973
- Added rubella for kindergarten and included child care enrollees and nursery schools
1978
- Added polio; diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP); and mumps.
- Changed the religious exemption to “conscientiously held beliefs” of parent/guardian.
1980
- Expanded law to include all grades, kindergarten through 12 “in order to enroll or remain enrolled.”
- Set the minimum age for measles immunization at 11 months, 15 days.
1988
- Increased the minimum age for a child to have received measles vaccine to 12 months.
- Removed the exemption for mumps immunization for students 7 years of age and older.
- Removed the exemption for rubella immunization for girls 12 years of age and older.
1989
- Expanded law to include Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) children.
- Required that documentation of immunizations administered after 1/1/90 indicate month, day, and year.
- Required the transfer of immunization information from high school records to a post-secondary educational institution.
- Enacted the College Immunization Law, Minnesota Statutes, section 135.14. This statute covers all private and public two- and four-year colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions (e.g., private vocational schools).
1992
- Added the second dose of measles, mumps, and rubella to seventh and 12th grades and by 1996-97 to seventh through 12th grades.
- Added Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b disease, which is a major cause of meningitis in young children) for children in child care and ECSE.
1996
- Added tetanus/diphtheria (Td) booster for seventh and 12th grades, and by 1998-99 for seventh through 12th grades.
1997
- Added language to give elementary and secondary schools the flexibility to grant temporary exemptions of up to 30 days for transfer students.
- Added an exemption of up to five days for children placed in a crisis nursery.
2000
- Added hepatitis B for kindergarten.
2001
- Expanded hepatitis B for seventh grade.
- Required all post-secondary educational institutions to provide information on the transmission, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis A, B, and C to all persons who are first-time enrollees.
2003
- Shortened the grace period that school-age children can complete a required vaccine series from 18 to 8 months.
- Allowed vaccine doses administered four or fewer days before the minimum age required in law to be considered valid.
- Required post-secondary educational institutions to provide information on the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability of an effective vaccine to each individual who is a first-time enrollee and resides in on-campus housing.
2004
- Added chickenpox (varicella) to kindergarten and seventh grade.
Added pneumococcal conjugate for child-care enrollees who are 2 months or older but less than 24 months. - Moved the second dose of measles, mumps, and rubella to kindergarten.
- Eliminated the second dose of measles, mumps, and rubella for seventh through 12th grades after the 2011-2012 school year.
Current Minnesota Vaccination Requirements: School Age Children
According to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, as of 2009, no person over 2 months old may be allowed to enroll or remain enrolled in an elementary, secondary school or child care facility in the state of Minnesota until the person has submitted either a statement from a physician or public clinic which provides immunizations stating that the person has received immunization against measles after attaining the age of 12 months, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, mumps, haemophilus influenza type b, and hepatitis b. Or the facility has attained a statement from a physician or a public clinic which provides immunizations stating that the person has received immunizations, consistent with medically acceptable standards, against measles after having attained the age of 12 months, rubella, mumps, and haemophilus influenza type b and that the person has commenced a schedule of immunizations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and hepatitis B and which indicates the month and year of each immunization received.
However, if a person is at least seven years old and has not been immunized against pertussis, the person must not be required to be immunized against pertussis. If a person is at least 18 years old and has not completed a series of immunizations against poliomyelitis, the person must not be required to be immunized against poliomyelitis. If a statement, signed by a physician, is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that an immunization is contraindicated for medical reasons or that laboratory confirmation of the presence of adequate immunity exists, the immunization specified in the statement need not be required. If a notarized statement signed by the minor child's parent or guardian or by the emancipated person is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that the person has not been immunized because of the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian of the minor child or of the emancipated person, the immunizations specified in the statement shall not be required. This statement must also be forwarded to the commissioner of the Department of Health. If the person is under 15 months, the person is not required to be immunized against measles, rubella, or mumps. If a person is at least five years old and has not been immunized against haemophilus influenza type b, the person is not required to be immunized against haemophilus influenza type b. If a person who is not a Minnesota resident enrolls in a Minnesota school online learning course or program that delivers instruction to the person only by computer and does not provide any teacher or instructor contact time or require classroom attendance, the person is not subject to the immunization, statement, and other requirements.
However, if a person is at least seven years old and has not been immunized against pertussis, the person must not be required to be immunized against pertussis. If a person is at least 18 years old and has not completed a series of immunizations against poliomyelitis, the person must not be required to be immunized against poliomyelitis. If a statement, signed by a physician, is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that an immunization is contraindicated for medical reasons or that laboratory confirmation of the presence of adequate immunity exists, the immunization specified in the statement need not be required. If a notarized statement signed by the minor child's parent or guardian or by the emancipated person is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that the person has not been immunized because of the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian of the minor child or of the emancipated person, the immunizations specified in the statement shall not be required. This statement must also be forwarded to the commissioner of the Department of Health. If the person is under 15 months, the person is not required to be immunized against measles, rubella, or mumps. If a person is at least five years old and has not been immunized against haemophilus influenza type b, the person is not required to be immunized against haemophilus influenza type b. If a person who is not a Minnesota resident enrolls in a Minnesota school online learning course or program that delivers instruction to the person only by computer and does not provide any teacher or instructor contact time or require classroom attendance, the person is not subject to the immunization, statement, and other requirements.
Current Minnesota Vaccination Requirements: College Students
Minnesota Statutes, Section 135A.14, requires all students enrolling in a post-secondary educational institution to show evidence of one dose of tetanus and diphtheria (Td) within 10 years of enrollment and one dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine or properly documented exemption. The law applies to persons born in 1957 or later who are enrolled in more than one class. Students who graduated from a Minnesota high school in 1997 or later are also exempt. Minnesota laws also require post-secondary schools to provide students with information on hepatitis and meningococcal disease.
Minnesota law, Section 135A.14, says that all public and private universities and colleges must provide information on the transmission, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis A, B, and C to all first-time enrollees.
Minnesota law, Section 135A.14, requires that all public and private universities and colleges provide information on the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability of a vaccine to all first-time enrollees who live in on-campus student housing
Minnesota law, Section 135A.14, says that all public and private universities and colleges must provide information on the transmission, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis A, B, and C to all first-time enrollees.
Minnesota law, Section 135A.14, requires that all public and private universities and colleges provide information on the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability of a vaccine to all first-time enrollees who live in on-campus student housing
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