Public Health Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public Health Issues - Essay Example The CDC has recently announced that scheduled flu vaccines for the 2012 to 2013 season already include protection for three influenza virus strains: influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus (CDC, 2012). Significance to Public Health The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that influenza could actually afflict all people from various age groups. However, those segments of the population who were identified to be at risk of complications are as follows: â€Å"children younger than age two, adults age 65 or older, and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems† (WHO, 2009, par. 5). Also, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has emphasized the need for health care personnel (HCP) to be vaccinated on a compulsory level. As noted, â€Å"health care personnel can spread the highly contagious influenza virus to patients in their care. In fact, unvaccinated workers can be a key cause of outbreaks in health care settings† (NFID, 2008, p. 2). In an article written by Sawyer, et al. (2012), it was disclosed that the public health advisory on the need for increased influenza immunization has been succesful in enjoining employers to promote the need for vaccination. However, the results of the study revealed that â€Å"population-based surveys of HCPs did not show significant increases in influenza vaccination. Overall, this study suggests that public health leadership, intensive employer promotion activities, and state-required declinations alone were not sufficient to significantly increase HCP influenza vaccination. Policymakers and employers should consider mandates to achieve optimal influenza vaccination among HCPs† (Sawyer, Peddecord, Wang, Deguire, Miskewitch-Dzulynsky, & Vuong: Abstract, 2012, par. 4). The relevance, therefore, of the issue to public hea lth is paramount in terms of manifesting conformity to the call to action of these high risk populations to be immunized against influenza and therefore contribute to the prevention and spread of this illness. Past, Current, Future Statistics The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in conjunction with other national health agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the CDC, and the National Immunization Survey (NIS) have monitored and surveyed the influenza vaccination coverage levels of various population groups. Among which, Table 3 of the report written by Fiore, et al. entitled â€Å"Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines† provides past and current statistics (Fiore & al., 2010). As emphasized, â€Å"in the 2009--2010 vaccination season, 33% of seasonal influenza vaccinations occurred in health departments, pharmacies or drug stores, workplaces, schools, or other nonmedical locations (CDC, unpublished data, 2009). The proportion o f 2009 H1N1 vaccine administered in these settings was 45% (CDC, unpublished data, 2010)† (Fiore, et al.: Other Settings, 2010, par. 1). Future directions indicate that â€Å"most severe morbidity and mortality during typical influenza seasons occurs among persons aged ?65 years of those who have chronic medical conditions. More immunogenic influenza vaccines are needed for persons at

World poverty Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World poverty - Article Example The annual income required to a family to survive according to federal governments is the most general definition of poverty, which is established through the statistical evaluation. Michael Darby (1997:4) states that the actual definition of poverty is political, whose purpose is to level the growth related to programs. According to US census, keeping in view the inflation the poverty line regarding family of four in 2000 was $17,050 income. However, this definition of poverty has many issues according to several scholars of poverty such as; treatment of taxes, special work associated expenditures, regional dissimilarities in the price of living, cash income (Blank 1997; Quigley, 2003). Poverty annihilation due to political, ethical and economic urgency is necessary. The statement was given, in Copenhagen, fifteen years ago at the World Summit for Social Development by the global leaders. For growth, since then poverty annihilation has become the prime target, and it is being considered a common destructive element for the whole of humanity. To overcome poverty has become a global goal and it must be achieved until 2015. The goal, which was set fifteen years ago, could not obtain still. Still, poverty lingering everywhere except East Asia and China and at some level India, which have achieved incredulous success. According to the Social Summit 1995, the definition of poverty comprised of lack of participation, deprivation, and social exclusion and today the definition has extended in several other dimensions, and the goal is still very far. In sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of poverty is inflexibly and ineptly high. Moreover, in South Asia, poverty reduction is very low despite a sustainable development. To minimize and eradicate poverty economic growth seems a very significant factor; however, the growth at the same time in other directions is also mandatory such as; education,