Is Immunization Necessary?

Is Immunization Necessary?--2

This month we shall direct our atten­tion to the prevention of diphtheria.

By D. Lois BURNETT, R. N.

In the August Ministry, a classification of immunization practices was cited which stated that the "must-be-done" group included immunization against smallpox and diphtheria. A discussion concerning the necessity of ob­taining protection against smallpox was in­cluded. This month we shall direct our atten­tion to the prevention of diphtheria.

1. The Must-Be-Done Group—Diphtheria

Diphtheria is primarily a disease of young children. Approximately ninety-five per cent of cases diagnosed as diphtheria occur in chil­dren less than six years of age. "Two thirds or more of the urban cases are in children under ten years of age, and two thirds or more of the urban deaths occur in children under five years of age."'

If the damaging results of the disease are to be eradicated, health educators must direct their attention to informing parents of infants and preschool children of the importance of securing such protection for their children. How old should the child be before he is immun­ized against diphtheria ? A newborn child of a mother who has developed an immunity to the disease will have received through the pla­cental circulation enough antibodies to protect him for a few weeks or months. Breast feeding may assist somewhat in this protection. By the ninth month of life this passive congenital immunity has been lost in a high percentage of infants.

"All children should be immunized against diphtheria. The following procedure is recom­mended:

At six to nine months of age either two doses of diphtheria toxoid, alum precipitated, or three doses of fluid diphtheria toxoid, at one-month intervals. This same procedure should be applied to all chil­dren at or below six years of age if immunization has been neglected in infancy. Children given an immunizing treatment during infancy should receive a single reinforcing dose on entrance to school."

Parents should seek to discover whether the child has been protected by the immunizing treatment by having a Schick test administered approximately three months after the immuniz­ing treatment. The Schick test is the injection, intradermally, of the diluted toxin into the flexor surface of the forearm. By noting the reaction to the test, a physician may determine whether there is diphtheria antitoxin in the blood, and thus tell whether the individual is susceptible or immune to diphtheria.

It has been pointed out that diphtheria is primarily a disease of the preschool child and the elementary-school child in the lower grades. The reason for this is that an adult tends to develop an immunity to the disease, as he fre­quently "has received many small doses of diphtheria bacilli, no one of which was suf­ficient to cause the disease. The tissues of this person, however, have reacted to the stimulus of these doses, or rather to that of the toxin which they produced, by producing chemical antidotes known as antibodies (because they are "anti," or against, the toxin) which stand ready to combat any new dosage which the patient may receive."3

Because of the extreme susceptibility of preschool children, they are usually given the immunizing treatment without a Schick test's having been previously administered. On the other hand, among children of school age who have not been immunized, a certain portion have naturally become immune. For this rea­son, these children are usually given a Schick test to determine their immunity and their need of the preventive treatment.

Teachers, nurses, physicians, and other adults likely to be frequently exposed should be given a Schick test periodically and actively immu­nized if the Schick test is positive. No life should be lost today from diphtheria, and fur­thermore no child should suffer from the disease. Science has provided the preventive measures which make this possible. Some cities have carried on such an extensive pre­ventive program that in as long a period as five years no deaths from diphtheria have occurred.

If as high as sixty per cent of the children are immunized, the disease will disappear in epidemic proportions. Even if one hundred per cent of the children were immunized, we would need to continue to immunize children of each succeeding generation. The reason for this is that a small per cent of the population are known to be carriers of the diphtheria bacillus ; namely, healthy individuals harboring virulent forms of the germ in the mouth, throat, and nose. Such persons do not develop symptoms of diphtheria on account of their natural immunity or resistance to the diph­theria germ, but they can transmit the organism to others. When exposure occurs, if it is known in time, the disease may still be pre­vented, or the severity of it abated, by the administration of a suitable dose of antitoxin.

It is extremely important that when the disease is contracted, antitoxin be given as early as possible. Each hour the administra­tion of antitoxin is delayed, the dangers from the disease and the possibility of death increase. "This, of course, is a passive immunization, and since the material injected is horse serum and really foreign to the human body, it is rapidly eliminated, so that the immunity lasts for only a short time. The prophylactic use of antitoxin in this way is now rarely necessary?' The protection is probably entirely lost by the end of the third week. Following such an experience, parents should seek to have their children immunized if they have not developed an immunity. An attack of the disease does not necessarily ensure immunity against it.

Milk can be infected by carriers of the diph­theria bacillus. Milk is a good culture medium for the disease organism, and may cause wide dissemination of the disease. Diphtheria car­riers, or persons in contact with an individual ill from the disease, should be barred from handling food. Pasteurization of all milk en­sures the destruction of any diphtheria bacilli which may have been conveyed into it.

Since every means necessary for the preven­tion of the disease is available, every preschool and elementary-school child should be pro­tected against diphtheria. Economically this protection is within the reach of all. An emi­nent physician has said that if a death due to diphtheria occurs, it is murder chargeable to someone's neglect. This is a strong statement ; but how else can we view the matter when not only the death, but the disease itself, could have been prevented if proper protection had been secured at the appropriate time?

Diphtheria cases and deaths are more fre­quent in the fall and winter months than in other seasons of the year. Parents should seek to protect their children against this disease now.                       (Concluded in December)

Notes:

1 Committee of the American Public Health Asso­ciation, "The Control of Communicable Diseases," p. ii. Public Health Reports, Reprint No. 1697, Washington, D. C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1940.

1d., p.12

3 Stimson, A. M., "The Communicable Diseases," p. 21, Miscellaneous Publication Number 30, Wash­ington, D. C.: United States Printing Office, 1939. 4Surdon, Kenneth L., "A Textbook of Micro­biology," p. 410. New York City : Macmillan, 1939.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

By D. Lois BURNETT, R. N.

November 1941

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Dare We Abandon Our Study Life?

Conditions in the world de­mand that the ministers of God's final message shall think straight, have right ideas and high ideals, and know the truth without peradven­ture. This cannot be accomplished without persistent study and thorough research.

Reaching the Non-Christians of India

How to reach the great mass of Hindus with the gospel message in an effective way is the problem that mis­sions in India face. I should like to throw out some suggestions which might be of help in meeting this great problem.

Radio Evangelism in China

More than seven years ago, in March, 1934, the Lord opened a door of oppor­tunity for us to begin proclaiming the message over the air in Shanghai, China. Without in­terruption, this work has continued for a full hour every Sunday morning until recently.

Common Fire in Our Service

A warning for modern Nadabs and Abihus who profane God's service with the "common fire" of secularism in its many forms.

Using the Newspapers in South Africa

We are not able to use the radio here in, South Africa; so I have been using newspaper publicity in publishing the message.

The Science of Soul Winning

The art of persuading men to turn to Christ is the greatest science that this old sin-cursed world has ever known.

Affiliated Yet Independent Broadcasts

The accompanying cut is the joint emblem of three broadcasts conducted in the Middle Western States, all operating under the same name, yet separate in their work.

How God Trains His Workers

Vital "Testimony" Counsels from the Spirit of Prophecy

Giving New Impetus to the Bible Work

Our Monthly Bible Worker Interchange column.

The Pastor and the Home (Part II)

Every pastor who faces frankly the prob­lems of his church which to a greater or lesser extent have their origin in the home, must come to the conclusion that definite, well-planned action must be taken to improve the abilities of parents, that they may do more effective work in homemaking and child cul­ture.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - RevivalandReformation 300x250

Recent issues

See All