WebQuest Report: Childhood Immunisation

Childhood immunization was implemented is because it applies a positive externalities to the society. Positive externalities is the simply the side-effect that the society received when an action is done. In this case the side-effect is beneficial to the society and to the person who did the action too.

First of all, immunization as what we know is a preventive measure to prevent people from getting a particular disease. It is similar as an investment (economic speaking), since we spent a sum of money for things that do not bring benefit and satisfaction straight-away after we consume it. The benefit effect may be enjoyed later, when other people get the disease, while you are not.

This brings benefit to the society because it cuts down the chances of the society to get infected by a disease if a child is immunized. The benefit is double since the immunized child and the society are now become less vulnerable to the disease. Next, by immunizing as many people as possible against a certain disease, the disease could eventually be eradicated from that area as all people there cannot contract this disease. Statistically, 3 million children die every year due to diseases that they could have been immunized against. To keep the infant mortality rate in Singapore lower, and hence have a higher quality of life, the government would have to implement this plan. Furthermore, for every $1 spent on immunizing a child, society saves up to $29 in the form of man hours not lost.

There are other related benefits that can be drawn by immunizing children. This immunization cuts down losses in man hours due to illness contracted from diseases that could have otherwise been prevented or avoided. Furthermore, other possibly benefits immunization include the fact that it acts as a preventive measure as they are less susceptible to disease and children in particular are more likely to attend school and earn more income over their lifetime. A new study on the economic effects of vaccinations from the World Bank finds that well designed and comprehensive vaccination programmes have a positive effect on savings and wealth and encourage families to have fewer children which lead to less demographic pressures on scarce resources. More subtly, it can be good for an entire population since, if enough of its members are vaccinated, even those who are not will receive a measure of protection.

Yet, still there are negative externalities too to every action we took. If a child is scared to be immunized in form of injection, he will cry and refuse to be injected, thus cutting down time for the doctor to serve other patients. Moreover, the child can also act violently to avoid this, thus causing problems to his parents and doctors.

All in all, since the positive externalities outweigh the negative externalities, childhood immunization is beneficial in nature. More countries should actually adopt regulations that make immunization compulsory to the young, thus helping the nation from contracting severe diseases that could hinder their progress. Thus, more resources can be channel for other means to enhance the development of a country.

Credits: Guan Yangyue, Michelle Law and Esther Herjanto