The Vaccine

The vaccine given for polio can come in two different forms. The first is an inactivated vaccine, IPV, that is injected and provides immunity with inactivated viral particles. The second type is given orally and referred to as OPV. The OPV vaccine is an attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains a small virulent dose of the virus, allowing the risk of possible mutation in the body. OPV does provide more herd immunity because it stops replication of the virus in the body before it could be shed in feces. Both types of the vaccine provide immunity to one’s body, but the IPV does not prevent the virus from being spread to others through feces. Since 2000, the US only administers the IPV vaccine through injections. Children in the US are given four injections over the course of infancy-childhood in order to provide full immunity.

Polio does not pose a large threat to the US but the United Nations has declared the spread of polio in other countries a “public health emergency.” In places such as Pakistan, the willingness of their citizens to accept vaccinations is low, leading to lower percentages of the vaccinated population. There were 113 cases of the polio virus in countries across the world last December. This number is compared to around 28 in 2018. An increase of this size in the incidence of a virus that can be prevented through a vaccine is unacceptable. It should become a priority to reach children in these countries in order to provide them with immunity from this disease.

Although wild type 1 poliovirus still poses a threat in areas in some middle eastern countries, the other 2 wild strains of polio have been eradicated worldwide. In October 2019, the wild type 3 strain was officially eradicated worldwide. This was a huge “milestone for global health” in the prevention of spread with this disease. Wild strain 2 was officially eradicated in 2015. With the improving resources and efforts of medical experts, their hope is to work towards eradicating the last strain in the near future.

The anti-vaccine movement has been finding new ways to misinform the general public, especially through the use of social media. Instagram and other social media platforms have started blocking posts and hashtags that this group is using, in order to prevent the spread of misinformation. These efforts have not stopped the movement, but have fueled it more instead. Those against vaccination have also started protesting in front of doctor offices in order to sway those bringing their children in for vaccination. Although the original research by Dr. Andrew Wakefield was taken down and his findings renounced, the anti vaccination movement continues to prosper.

Vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine have dropped to about 94.3% from the normal rate of about 95%. This means the optimal level for effective herd immunity is not being reached, and more cases will continue to arise. This is the 3rd year in a row that these vaccination levels have dropped, due to the increasing members of the anti vaccination movement. The United States has also been removed from the World Health Organization list of countries that have eliminated measles due to the increasing incidence. This is frightening to doctors because diseases thought to be extinct in our society, have made their way back into the picture because of the lack of those vaccinating their children.

Several ideas have been a factor in the minds of the anti vaccination parents as an affirmation of their beliefs. The mistrust in pharmaceutical companies and the government plays a large role in the hesitancy of parents to vaccinate their children. The requirement of vaccinations put a sense in mistrust by these communities and therefore decreases the likelihood of their submission. The self absorbed society that is common in the US is another part of the decrease in willingness to vaccinate. One of the major ideas involved with vaccinations is protecting the immunocompromised that can’t receive a vaccine. Parents have shown more likely to be concerned with the well being of their own children, rather than helping the herd immunity.

What is a microbiome?

A microbiome consists of all the microorganisms that coexist around your body and in your intestines. These microorganisms can be good or bad, but they contribute to your body’s overall health and wellbeing. Each person has their own unique DNA that establishes a personalized microbiome for an individual. The issues produced by microbiota come when there are imbalances in the relationships between one’s body and the bacteria surrounding it. This can lead to increased susceptibility and weakened immunity.

The microbiome can assist the body in fighting off certain diseases and infections. Gut microbiota play an important role in establishing this protective relationship. The microbiome in the gut also helps the body digest some of the food intake. A bacterial infection known Clostridioides difficile affects the intestinal tract and leads to cases of severe diarrhea. This infection comes into play when the normal microbiome balance if off in the gastrointestinal tract. Experts have established a microbiota based therapy using fecal transplants. These help bring normal gut microbiota back into the patient dealing with C. diff to treat the infection.

A mature microbiome is acquired at age 3. It is known to develop starting from the descent of a baby through the mother’s birth canal. New research has been conducted showing that evidence of microbiota formation in the lungs could start during fetal development, even before the baby is introduced into the environment. Their research found the same microbiota formation in lungs of infants that had been born vaginally as well as through a Cesarean section. This new information leads scientists to believe that the microbiome could play an important role in lung formation as well as acquiring innate immune responses. This and other research regarding our microbiome can possibly lead to increasing our immunity to certain diseases.

The coronavirus is continuing to spread in China and in the United States. There have now been 12 confirmed cases in the US, while the number of deaths is continuing to rise. The death toll has reached around 560 in China with 28,000 confirmed cases. US Nationals and others have been evacuated from Wuhan to be brought back to the US. They have been placed under a strict quarantine to ensure none of them have come in contact with the coronavirus. This is a preventative measure to restrict the spread of the disease to other US citizens.

Recap: What is the Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it comes from and animal and has now adapted to be transmitted to humans. The signs and symptoms of the new 2019 coronavirus are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. Those coming from areas around Wuhan, China should watch out for onset of symptoms within 2 weeks of exposure to these areas. This new strain of coronavirus differs from the others because of the limited knowledge that experts have on its transmission. Most coronaviruses are spread through respiratory droplets in the air from an infected person. This virus has shown to be spread even from asymptomatic persons.

Prevention

With the 12 cases that have presented within the states, there has still been no person- person transmission. The threat to the general public is still low at this point due to the travel restrictions and quarantine of patients affected with the disease. Even so, the general public should take measures to protect themselves from a possible source of infection. Hand washing and covering your cough as measures that will prevent the spread of any source of infection. Avoid touching your face at unnecessary times as this is a way to easily introduce infection into your body. At this point, the CDC has recommended no travel to China and is closely watching any incoming citizens from the affected areas.

This flu season has been racking up in hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. The CDC has recorded around 8000 deaths so far with about 150,000 people hospitalized. With the new threat of the coronavirus in the US, the flu has been off the radar of most of the population. Although the numbers for this flu season aren’t much different than the recent years, preventative measures are important in staying healthy. One positive aspect of this season is the amount of flu vaccines given worldwide, at 170.3 million. The best way to prevent against the flu is receiving a vaccination.

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine! The saying goes “some protection is better than none” and this applies to getting the flu vaccine. There are different strains of flu that appear year to year and the vaccines are updated each year according to the projected prevalence of each. The need for new vaccines is due to the antigenic drift produced by the influenza vaccine. This year’s vaccine is prepared to prevent against 2 strains of A virus and two strands of B virus. The influenza B strand has dominated this season. Influenza B is usually more prevalent later in the season, which sets this year apart from past flu seasons.

How to Keep Healthy?

The CDC recommends that you receive the flu vaccine around October. Getting the shot too early can reduce the amount of protection that it would provide in the late season. Another preventative measure to keep yourself healthy is hand washing. The spread of germs can be reduced by washing hands. The influenza virus is spread through respiratory droplets in the air. Preventative measures such as covering your coughs, staying out of crowds, and washing your hands are the second best defense against the flu.

What is it?

The new coronavirus has recently worked its way into the headlines of major news broadcasts and media. This virus was first detected in Wuhan City, China and has since entered into the United States. The suspected source of this virus is an animal reservoir, more specifically bats. Person to person contact has become a major path of transmission in China once the original population was suspected to be infected from a meat market. Below is what you need to know about the threat this disease poses on citizens in the US.

The CDC has explained that the threat to the majority of the population in the US is low. This is due to the isolation of patients infected with this virus and their limited person- person contact. Unless you’re a healthcare worker in direct contact with these patients, there is little reason to worry at this point. The virus has produced variations in severity with some cases being nearly asymptomatic and others deadly. Various restrictions have also been place on nonessential travel to China and the CDC is closely monitoring all incoming peoples for signs of the virus.

How to React

According to an article posted by the New York Times, the death toll in China has risen to 170 deaths with around 7000 infections worldwide. Although these numbers seen alarming, the US has only recorded a few cases with no person to person transmission. The signs to look out for regarding this virus include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms appear anywhere from a couple days to 2 weeks after exposure to the virus. Those traveling from infected areas in China should be aware of these signs and symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary. The prevalence of infection is expected to increase in the next few weeks, but the threat to the US is low at the time being.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield published an article on his findings, relating the MMR vaccine with developmental delays in children, in the Lancet in 1998. His research found that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) led to signs of developmental disorder, more specifically autism, in previously healthy children. Further research was conducted and articles posted in medical journals have since refuted his findings. An article posted on PubMed Central discussed the events following Wakefield’s claims. His article received a lot of attention from the media and scientists and led to a change in beliefs regarding vaccinations.

Dr. Wakefield chose 12 patients that were seen by a gastroenterologist because of their newfound symptoms of language loss and abdominal issues. The small sample size alone was seen as alarming to other medical researchers. It later came out that the sampling Wakefield and his team conducted was selective by what fit their personal agenda. The epidemiological studies that were conducted in order to prove the doctor’s findings were unsuccessful and disputed Wakefield’s research. News of wrongful motives emerged including one that “Wakefield had been funded by lawyers who had been engaged by parents in lawsuits against vaccine-producing companies.” This information alone is enough to question the credibility of the doctor and his team.

Although his findings were later proven flawed, the response from Americans and Europeans was considerable. The vaccination rates for MMR vaccine dramatically decreased during this time. The concerns from parents led to hesitation towards vaccines and their safety. The bandwagon effect that was produced from the doctor’s publication has now been considered one of the biggest medical frauds in history. Those who were quick to jump to conclusions were the ones withholding vaccinations from themselves or their children. Measles was eradicated in the US since the 50th year anniversary of the MMR vaccine in 1968. The measles has since shown cases in the United States due to the lack of vaccination in some children. Although a direct link is not proven, the ideas brought forth by Wakefield’s publication made an impact on society and on the minds of parents across the world.

Hi!

My name is Josie Crooks. I am a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am currently a pre-nursing student with plans of entering the nursing school next fall. I plan on becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

I am from Gastonia, North Carolina and I am 19 years old. I have a younger brother, and two dogs, Roxie and Rosie. Throughout high school I was a cheerleader and I also played tennis. During the summer, I work as a nanny for three children.

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

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