Immunizations in Israel

I have wanted to visit Israel and possibly live there as well so I decided to research immunizations there. Since the early 1990's, a vaccine for hepatitis A and Haemophilus influenzae b have been required for children.  Haemophilus influenzae b  (Hib) is the underlying cause of invasive infections and bacteria meningitis in children (Dagan, Fraser, Roitman, etal, 1999).  Before 1993, there was an average of 170 cases per year of invasive infectious diseases caused by Hib (Dagan, Fraser, Roitman, etal, 1999).  After the vaccine was required for 2, 4 and 12 month olds in 1994, the incidence of Hib breakouts declined by 96% in under 5 years and there were no deaths from Hib (Dagan, Fraser, Roitman, etal, 1999).  This study was the first of its kind outside of the US and western Europe yet it does have implications for the world.    Israel is the first country to require a hepatitis A vaccine and it is administered in two doses given at 18 and 24 months (Chodick, Green, Heymann, et al, 2007). Hepatitis A was endemic and is under reported in Israel (Chodick, Green, Heymann, et al, 2007).  Hepatitis is endemic in most developing countries.  Since 1999 when the hepatitis A vaccine became required, there was significant decrease in cases across ages (Chodick, Green, Heymann, et al, 2007).  

Based on what I have learned, I will definitely encourage parents to vaccinate their children while being sensitive to their fears about possible side effects from them.  I definitely believe efforts need to continue and increase to make vaccinations available to children in developing nations.  

Dagan, Ron, Fraser, Drora, Roitman, Malvina, Slater, Paul, Anis, Emilia, et al, (1999, January).  Effectiveness of a nationwide infant immunization program against Haemophilus influenzae b. Vaccine 17 (2) 134-141  Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/science/article/pii/S0264410X98001650

Chodick, Gabriel, Green, Manfred, Heymann, Anthony, Rosenmann, Lena, Shelev, Varda (2007, November). The shifting epidemiology of hepatitis A following routine childhood immunization program in Israel. Preventive medicine 45(5) 386-391.  Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/science/article/pii/S0091743507002356