Vaccinations-Are they effective? Pres Thurles

Vaccinations- Are they effective?

History of Vaccines How are they made? How they work! The Polio Vaccine The Rubella Vaccine Email us

The Tetanus Vaccine The Meningococcal C Vaccine Who should be vaccinated? Side Effects Disadvantages TB & MMR

Introduction

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My two friends and I decided to do our project on "Vaccinations-Are they Effective?" because we wanted to find out if they really are the safest and most effective way of eradicating disease. We thought of doing this type of project following a science class we had in school. During that class we read an article in which a mother was claiming that her son got Autism after receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccination. Also around this time there was media hype about vaccinations such as the MMR and Meningococcal C and their side effects, while the government and Health Board were stepping up their campaign to increase the number of children receiving vaccinations.

After this class, we realised that a project on vaccinations could be very interesting and worthwhile. By doing this project we were hoping to find out what the good and bad effects of receiving vaccinations are. Each of us took a different section of the project to do. Sinead did the history of vaccinations; the alternatives to vaccinations and the effectiveness of vaccinations. Leonie did the benefits of vaccinations and I did the side effects both mild and severe of receiving vaccinations.

One of the most important parts of this project for us was our survey. We gave out questionnaires to first years, transition years and sixth years in each of the four secondary schools in Thurles; our own school - the Presentation, the Ursuline, the Vocational School and the Christian Brothers Secondary school. We also gave out surveys to the teachers in our school. The results of these questionnaires would affect the outcome of our project. Sinead and Leonie researched Encarta and the Internet on their computers, and I looked up Encarta on my computer and visited one of our local doctors, Dr. Daly. On this visit he gave me a lot of information about different vaccines including booklets and leaflets of vaccines from their boxes. We also studied encyclopaedias and medical books to research our topics. All this information from the computers, books and Dr. Daly made it possible for us to do our project.

We hoped that by the time we had finished our project we would have a better idea of the benefits and risks involved in receiving vaccinations. This would then enable us to make an educated study of the effectiveness of vaccinations.

The Survey....

The survey played a very important part in our project. In doing our survey first of all we decided what questions we would put on it. We made up eleven questions. We then issued the surveys to the first year, Transition year and Leaving certificate students in the Presentation Convent, Ursuline Convent, Christian Brothers and Vocational schools. We photocopied 550 surveys and received 499 back from the students. We also issued 40 copies to the teachers, and received 18 back. When we had all of the surveys collected we analysed the results for 5 questions that we felt were the most important. We added up the results individually for students and teachers so that we could make charts to compare and contrast the results. The questions were:

Do you agree with vaccinations?
Have you had all of your vaccinations such as the 3 in 1, the MMR, the BCG, the meningitis and the Polio?
Do you realise the dangers of vaccinations?

Do you suffer from any side effects of vaccinations?

Would you still support immunisation?

After gathering the sufficient information we then decided on the types of graphs and charts to use in order to display the results of our experiment. We used the bar – charts to display question 2, which shows which vaccines the students and teachers received. We then decided to use pie – charts to display questions 1, 3, 8, and 11. The reason that we chose these questions first of all was to see the public’s opinion of vaccinations and their risks. Given the media hype surrounding the side effects and the effectiveness of vaccinations, we decided to find out just how many people suffered from side effects or believe that vaccines are effective. We found these to be the most effective charts and graphs for this purpose. We put the required information for the graphs and the charts on two separate tables, one for teachers and one for students.

Results of the Survey

From the results of the survey, we were able to make nine charts - four pie charts and five bar charts. We put the results of each vaccination from question two on bar charts. Question one, three, eight and eleven were put on pie charts. From the results of the surveys we got back from the first years of the four schools many of them didn’t know if they had got all their vaccinations.

After all the results were added up from the students surveys, 84% agreed with vaccinations but only 80% would still support immunisation at the end of the survey. From question two of the students results 81% received the 3-in-1, 93% received the MMR, 79% received the BCG, 50%, received the Meningitis and 66% received the Polio vaccination. From question three, ‘Do you realise the dangers of vaccinations’ of the students results 42% didn’t know. From question eight ‘Do you suffer from any side-effects of vaccinations’ of the students results 75% said they didn’t.

From the results of the teachers surveys 89% agreed with vaccinations and at the end of the survey 100% would still support immunisation. From question two of the teachers results 83% of the teachers received the BCG vaccination, 72% received the 3-in-1, 78% received the Polio vaccination. From question three ‘Do you realise the dangers 94% of the teachers did realise the dangers of vaccinations. Question eight of the teachers results ‘Do you suffer from any side-effects of vaccinations’ 78% said no. From question eleven of the teachers results 100% would still support immunisation.