Monday, September 30, 2019
Pia Financial Analysis 2013 Year
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Sunday, September 29, 2019
Should the Congress Raised the Driving Limited to 21?
should the congress raised the driving limited to 21? The legal driving age has been a constant debate and every few years another log is thrown onto the fire. Should we really raise the legal age to drive? Would it save lives? Today the driving age is 17 or ever younger . In my opinion is should be raise at least to 21 it could be a good idea to rise the driving age because young driver are the main cause of road death and injuries. Also young drivers drink and drive at the same time. If the driving age is 21 deaths would happen and roads would be safer.What do you think should it be raised in this essay I would tell you why it should be raised to age 21. The Highest death rate for driver is among the age 17. Although 4. 4% of drivers are under the age of 25, but they will cause 13% of fatal crashes People aged 16-19 holding a license was at 41% then went down to 26% Also 16-19 years old per 100,000 driving licenses had rise from 9. 76 death to 19. 23 deaths. People taking driving t ests being taken is on increase. It often teenagers driving late at night when most accident occur.According to the survey accomplished in 2005, twelve teens from sixteen to nineteen years old died every day from motor vehicle accident. Around 6,000 teenage drivers are killed in auto accidents each year. They are four times more likely to be killed in car accidents than any other age group. Some good news would be that it will reduce obesity. Driving encourage the population to be come lazy and obese if you cant drive it will forced to walk instead of being in the car and getting bigger.That is not the case many teen get busy these are three main distractions: visual (taking oneââ¬â¢s eyes off the road), manual (taking oneââ¬â¢s hands off the wheel), and (takings oneââ¬â¢s mind away from the driving task) decisions and not taking seriously. In conclusion it should be raised it not safe. A lot of people died each years and the causes are teen are being on their cellphoneâ⠬ ¦ etc Altogether it could be good to raise the driving age to 21 because the roads would be safer and 21 years old are more mature than 17 year old. The death rate would decrease and the road would safer
Saturday, September 28, 2019
A Comparison of Antigones and Ismenes Reactions to Grief in Antigone by Sophocles
A Comparison of Antigone's and Ismene's Reactions to Grief in Antigone by Sophocles Response Paper to Antigone The tale of Antigone is one of the oldest pieces of literature that is still being studied today. The play is able to explore the psychology of many different characters as they are all forced to deal with the death Polyneices. While the differences between how Antigone, Haimon, and Creon respond to the situation may be widely discussed, another interesting relationship to analyze in the text is that between Antigone and Ismene. Both sisters experience a tragedy as their brothers kill each other, yet their responses are quite different. Antigoneââ¬â¢s response to the grief is to focus on the injustice of the situation and risk herself to set things right, while Ismene is filled with sadness, yet fears the ramifications of breaking the law. Both responses are results of love, yet the specifics of each case allow a deeper look into the psychology of these characters. When reading and discussing the play of Antigone, Antigone herself is most often seen as the heroin. However, it could be argued that Antigone is the reason for the tragedy. If Antigone had expressed her grief with Haimon, it is possible that he could have convinced his father to lift the law against burying Polyneices body. Also, her rash decision to kill herself leads to the death of both Haimon and the queen as they are filled with grief. After thinking through the different endings that could have occurred if Antigone had responded calmer, it is reasonable to conclude that Antigoneââ¬â¢s plan of rebellion was not the most practical response. Ismene, on the other hand, responds with grief but no action. It could be argued that this is a more practical response as it prevents any further harm, yet with Ismeneââ¬â¢s response nothing is really fixed, it is all merely pushed aside as if it did not happen. After analyzing the practicality of the girlsââ¬â¢ responses, the question of morality is raised. Was Antigone doing the right thing, standing up for her family and offering herself as a sacrifice? Or was Ismene correct in avoiding further conflict and simply grieving for the loss of her brother and his honor? This is a very difficult thing to analyze as the grief in this situation is almost unfathomable. It may be most reasonable to argue that neither girl was in the right mindset to make a moral, practical decision. They have just learned that their brothers have killed each other and one will die with honor, while the other may not. Thinking about this situation, it becomes clear that neither girl responded ethically nor practically, but they both responded emotionally according to their own personalities. The play Antigone by Sophocles includes multiple complex situations and relationships, and that of Antigone and her sister Ismene is one of the most intriguing. Watching these girls deal with the pain of losing their brothers and then deal with the pain of losing each other in disagreement over the situation makes the tragedy more powerful. Sophocles is able to include human nature in this situation as both sisters behave impractically and unethically. This is seen often in life as well as emotions overcome logic and may lead to even more tragic situations as those that occur in Antigone.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Marketing Management Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words
Marketing Management - Research Proposal Example This paper provides an overview of the crisis encountered by Sainsbury's and aims to assess the company's recovery plan. Furthermore, this paper analyses the firm's internal and external environment through the use of analytical tools such as the PEST and SWOT methods of analysis. In view of the results of the industry analysis, this paper also recommends some strategic options that the company may undertake in order to facilitate its full recovery. Sainsbury's chain of supermarket was once the market leader in the UK supermarket sector. However, it currently occupies the third place, behind its major competitors Tesco and ASDA. The firm has been struggling to keep hold of its market share since the mid-1990s. With this, the company posted dramatically declining profit margins (Wikipedia 2005). Indicative of Sainsbury's lackluster performance, the firm's pretax profit as at end-March 2005 plunged by almost 98% year-on-year, from 610 million in 2004 to only 15 million (Profits collapse at Sainsbury's 2005). To note, it would have generated a negative bottom-line if not for the extraordinary gain on the disposal of its subsidiary in the United States (Wikipedia 2005). According to recently appointed Chief Executive Justin King, the bleak financial result is attributed to Sainsbury's diminishing competitive edge. He cited that in the past years, as the company's competitors have substantially improved, Sainsbury's failed to keep up. (Madslien 2005) Recovery Program In view of the much needed improvement in the company's operations and marketing strategy, King spearheaded a 400-million recovery program. The proposed program covers a three-year period and aims to enhance Sainsbury's marketing strategy (Profits collapse at Sainsbury's 2005). To start off, King launched a direct mail campaign to about a million customers as part of its business review. This is undertaken in order for the company to be aware of customers' expectations as well as identify the critical areas for improvement. The result of this campaign was consistent with the contention of retail analysts that Sainsbury's has severe problem ensuring stock availability. (Wikipedia 2005) This perceived weakness as revealed by the business review is immediately communicated to all store managers. Aside from this, the outcome was also announced publicly and was generally well received by the market and the media. With this, King pushed through with the recovery scheme by laying off about 750 headquarter staff and recruiting around 3,000 shop floor staff to ensure quality customer service and efficient replenishment of stocks. Since the firm's main problem is keeping shelves fully stocked, Sainsbury's management activated two distribution centres to enhance logistics and address issues on stock availability (Wikipedia 2005). It was also reported that Sainsbury's opted to end its ten-year contract with Accenture. After the system in place was deemed ineffective, the firm decided to bring its IT infrastructure back in house over the upcoming months (Ranger 2005). Apart from this, Sainsbury's also announced the halving of the fund allocated for dividends. This is because the firm's earnings would be plowed back to finance the recovery program. (Wikipedia 2005) In addition, to keep up with the competition, King appointed industry experts to join the
Thursday, September 26, 2019
The Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1
The Business Environment - Essay Example Business also stabilizes the countryââ¬â¢s currency through exports which counters the imports brought in the country. Governments also levy goods that are exported out of the country making it possible for it to invest in projects that will spearhead growth of the economy (Begg, 2001). One of the roles of businesses in the economy is the circulation of currency in the economy. The movement of money is what is called the velocity of money in the economy. This helps in reducing the rate of inflation rate in the country which has adverse effect on the growth of the economy (Begg, 2001). When the velocity of money in the economy is high, the rate of growth in the economy is also is high. Therefore, businesses play an important role in sustaining the economy of the country. Business also offers commodities and services to the public by making them to be easily accessible to them. It ensures that goods and services are available to consumers in the right time, at the right place and at the right quantity (Denby, 2010). This ensures that there is coordination on every part of the economy regardless of its position. The ease with, which products can reach the market and be consumed, can always bring economic prosperity, which is the dream of most governments. Business therefore, plays a crucial role in sustaining the population of the country therefore creating a serene environment for the public to venture in other economic growing activities. The urge of the profit organization to make maximize profits sustains the level of supply and demand. These forces enable the economy to remain stable as high demand results from deficit while low demand is as a result of low surplus. Increased profits by the organizations especially from exports play a crucial role in increasing savings by the banks which are later used to lend to banks customers. This capital is used in
Quality Assurance Procedure With Regard To Student's Ability-Based Essay
Quality Assurance Procedure With Regard To Student's Ability-Based Assessment - Essay Example This paper will explore an analysis of quality assurance with regard to Student ability-based assessment. The paper will also develop and examine the underlying issues and causes that trigger studentââ¬â¢s ability-based assessment as a way of quality assurance in college. Studentââ¬â¢s Ability-Based Assessment Institutions of higher learning for adults are very complex and dynamic. It is, thus, necessary to carry out student ability-based assessments for lecturers to be able to understand whether what they teach in the classroom is being understood by the students. Student ability-based assessment is seen to lead to program assessment. Wilkin (2000 p.18) notes that the ultimate goal is not only to determine the studentââ¬â¢s competency but also to determine corrective actions that may be taken to ensure that competency is reached. Student assessment scores are also used by the college as a measure of yearly progress (Denton and Brown 2009 p.217-229). Cicchelli and Ashby-Davi s (2011) argues that one of the major determinants of achievement of the learning task is to be able to establish the cognitive-entry characteristics of a person. Therefore, it is important to assess such entry characteristics before issuing instructions since many lecturers today are faced with teaching exceptional students and adults in the regular classroom. What triggered the introduction of student ability-based assessment in my college was the fact that a number of students were found only to show competencies in some of the subjects without due regard to the others. For example, in a course that exhibits two abilities as outcomes targets, some students were found to perform superbly in one, in which they even obtain a grade (ââ¬Å"Aâ⬠) but could completely show a big contrast in the other with a grade ââ¬Å"Fâ⬠. In some situations, the overall grade of some students would reflect an average performance of grade ââ¬Å"Câ⬠giving the student opportunity to pro gress through the curriculum. However, the truth of the matter is that the student lacks the ability to be deemed necessary by the faculty of the college. For this reason, the college administration, through assessment division, deemed it necessary for student assessments to be done as a quality assurance procedure so that a curriculum based on the studentââ¬â¢s ability can be introduced as suggested by Denton and Brown (2009 p.217-229). The introduction of student ability-based assessment was also to enable the college set a curriculum that is able to nature students with competence in their areas of study that meet labor market demands. This is after a survey showed that many graduates of the college lacked expected competency that meets the skills demanded in the labor market. The initial perception among the students was that the assessment was being carried out as a normal exam test procedure. It was until late that students came to discover that it was a way of examining in dividual student competency so that the college administration could come up with student curriculum validation procedures that meet the skills required in the labor market. Analysis of the Incident Wilkin (2000 P.6) argues that national demand for educational accountability has triggered interest in a number of assessment techniques through which institutions of learning can demonstrate responsibility and effectiveness. Ability-based education is such an approach used as
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Enterprise Resource Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Enterprise Resource Planning - Research Paper Example The software enables the integration of each and every aspect of operation within the organization including manufacturing, storage/inventory control, sales and marketing etc. The Enterprise Resource Planning software consists of several modules available to a given enterprise based on its needs and the level of technical capability within the enterprise. Each of the said modules is designed for a specific area of the enterprise such as marketing, distribution, product development etc (Nathan 60). No matter which module that an organization has decided to purchase, there are several factors that an organization wishing to successfully implement an ERP should consider (Leon 66). In explaining the success and failures of implementing an ERP system, we are going to take a look at two companies, one that has successfully implemented its ERP system and the second one that was not so successful in its implementation of the same. Starting us off, we will look at how Pratt and Whitney, a large Canadian aeronautics company that successfully implemented its ERP system known as SAP R/3. The implementation of this system took two and a half years to complete. Due to the expansive nature of the company (having customers in more than 170 countries and having over a dozen plants across the globe), the company decided to develop a centralized information processing system to improve on its customer satisfaction. This system was to be named SAP/R3 and through it the company intended to fully i ntegrate its information system through the application of the technology that was available at the time. In particular, this system was aimed at improving customer experience, reduce the amount of work in progress, increase turnover in inventory and finally ensure closer monitoring of inventory and the operating costs (Harwood 120). One of the factors that ensured that the development and implementation of SAP R/3 as a success was the inclusive nature of the project team that was behind this development and eventual implementation. This team was divided into groups and it included employees from all the relevant departments including sales and distribution, information technology, production, planning, materials management and finance. This all inclusive approach ensured that the proposed system would cater for everyoneââ¬â¢s needs and desired hence its acceptability across the board. The second factor that led to the success of SAP R/3 was the importance that was placed on trai ning of the employees on how the new system works. Training was undertaken across the departments and nearly all the employees whose functions would require knowledge of the system were accorded this training. The training covered general understanding of how the system works and technical aspects of the system such as basic navigation and how to accomplish the desired tasks. The third factor attributed to the success implementation of SAP R/3 was the effective data migration strategy that was used by the company in transferring data from the old system to the new one. The data was first ââ¬Ëcleansedââ¬â¢ before being transferred to the new system hence ensuring its correctness and reliability. Finally, the company had adequate capacity in terms of operational activities and technical capability (through its experienced staff) and financial ability to undertake this shift (Wallace 58). Having looked at the success story that is Pratt and Whitney in implementation of its ERP sy stem, we will flip the coin and consider a company that was not as fortunate in its implementation of its ERP system. Target Group is a UK based investment firm that tried to implement an ERP system but due to a number of reasons, this implementation was not as effective as was with the
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Human Resource Management PT 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Human Resource Management PT 1 - Essay Example as emphasized by Mueller & Baum (2011), ââ¬Å"labor, like all organizational resources, is highly dependent on supply and demand of human talent in different occupations, professions and industriesâ⬠(p. 140). The current discourse hereby aims to identify and discuss HRM concerns, such as organizational restructuring, staffing and selection, and other relevant HR issues in the healthcare setting. Restructuring in organizations are undertaken for varied purposes. Some organizations restructure to accommodate increased or specialized functions, departments, or divisions. Others deem that restructuring is needed to address inefficiencies and to minimize costs. In the study on restructuring, the authors revealed that it has the potential effects of leading to repercussive resignations, low morale from remaining staff, perceptions of insecurity, mistrust to management, low performance and productivty (Duffield and OBrien-Pallas 2002; Duffield, Kearin, Johnson, & Leonard, 2007). measured in terms of apparent effects on cost versus performance or productivity of the remaining workers, in the long-run (Bowes, 2009). According to Cascio (2009), downsizing has the following effects: ââ¬Å"lost business as a result of fewer salespeople; lack of new products since there are fewer R&D staff members; (and) reduced productivity when high performers leave as morale decreasesâ⬠(p. 1). As such, decreasing the number of employees does not always save an organization money because the organization would be incurring additional costs associated with hiring, training new personnel, and maintaining the current pool of human resources in a motivated and highly productive manner through the use of motivational techniques. Selecting a qualified person for a position necessitates application of acquisition strategies. The organization should have a well-designed job organization system that defines job positions according to qualifications of potential candidates versus the tasks and
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Hsc module c Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Hsc module c - Essay Example It is imperative to recognize that different countries have varied political structures. Therefore, people are represented differently in different countries. In essence, it is essential to study the politics of different nations to identify the dynamisms in politics. The society is usually stratified into political, socio-cultural and economic aspects. The socio-cultural aspect entails the peopleââ¬â¢s way of life and the organization of social institutions. The economic aspect is concerned about the peopleââ¬â¢s source of livelihood. The primary focus in the economic division is how people earn a living. Finally, the political organ deals with leadership and administration of services in the country. In essence, the political organ affects the operation of the other divisions and, therefore, emerges as a sensitive aspect (Reynolds, 2000). Apparently, all people cannot be involved directly in leadership and, therefore, representatives have to be chosen from the general population. Essentially, there exist numerous ways that can be used to choose political leaders from the general population. For instance, the leaders are chosen through elections or appointments. The Australian government operates a democratic government where all eligible candidates are offered a level ground to participate in the countryââ¬â¢s leadership. In most case, people representation in politics is facilitated by the general elections. In this case, the citizens are allowed to participate in the general elections and elect leaders of their choice. The elected leaders become representatives of the common citizens in the political arena. All the political decisions made by the elected and appointed members reflects on the ideas of the general population of the country. Therefore, the elected leaders act as the custodians of the interests of t he local people and thereby their actions significantly influence the operations of
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Strategic Cost Management (SCM) GPBL Trimester Essay Example for Free
Strategic Cost Management (SCM) GPBL Trimester Essay Strategic Variance Analysis of a Firm Growth,Price, Profitability, Productivity Elements affecting its Profits and consequent Cash Flow. Max. Word Count 3000 words This is a study on a Strategic Variance Analysis for the profitability as well as the Operating Cash flow. In this context you need to take some critical assumptions if you are unable to procure the relevant quantitative details. The quantitative details you will need are as follows: 1. Industry aggregates of the Units Produced and Sold 2. Chosen Firm level details of the Units Produced and Sold. 3. Input Output Ratio. This will need assumptions and perhaps be restricted only to the materials. You need to perform a reasonable amount of research to obtain these numbers. Quantitative details may be provided in Annual Reports of the firms constituting the industry you have considered. Check sources such as the Capitaline. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RBI, Planning commission, some publications such as the statistical outline of India etc etc. You need to examine the following: a) Select an Industry, use an appropriate justification of having defined the industry by using the ITC code, HSN or SIC classification or any other that will have some universal acceptability. b) Choose a Firm you would want to analyze that constitutes the Industry you have chosen. c) If industry aggregates are not available define the industry by identifying the major industry players and then aggregate their quantitative details to make this a proxy for the Industry or the market you would want t o consider. d) Perform a Strategic Variance Analysis to demarcate the impact of Growth, Price and Productivity elements in explaining the impact on the changes in the profits of the firm you have chosen for the year with its subsequent year. Therefore if you are analyzing the Year 2011 compare this with 2012 for the firm and the industry. e) Perform a strategic variance analysis on the operating cash flow for the firm chosen. f) Conclude on strategy you believe the firm is adopting given the financial analysis you have done. Marking Parameters: 1. Choice of the Industry and the firm and its justification. -[10 Marks] 2. Demonstrated evidence of the research done in obtaining information for points (a), (b) and (c). [30 Marks] 3. Critical Analysis of Points (d) and (e).[50 Marks] 4. Conclusion[10 Marks]
Friday, September 20, 2019
Debates on the MMR Vaccination
Debates on the MMR Vaccination Master document text I am no longer trying to dig up evidence to prove vaccines cause autism. There is already abundant evidenceThis debate is not scientific but is political (Ayoub, D. (2006).Using your knowledge of immunology, discuss the arguments for and against the use of vaccination. Vaccination has become an extensively useful strategy for the prevention of infectious disease and continues to be one of the most successful health interventions andà remains one of societys best healthcare investments (ref). Never in the history of human progress, wrote the pathologist Geoffrey Edsal, Has a better and cheaper method of preventing illness been developed than immunisation at its best (ref). The mainly ambitious aim of vaccination is eradication of the disease. This has been achieved for smallpox; the eradication of polio is being attempted and there has been a dramatic downward trend in the incidence of most of the diseases against which vaccines are currently used. The incidence of the invasive disease Haemophilus influenza, which causes bacterial meningitis in children has decreased in the United States of America by an impressive 99%, sby introducing the vaccine in 1988 (ref). Children born in the U.S. are fully vaccinated from the age of 1 years old to adolescence, saving approximately 33,000 lives and an estimated 14 million infections (ref). However, as long as any focus of infection remains in the community, the main effect of vaccination will be the protection of the individual against the disease (ref). The success of a vaccination programme relies not only on the development and use of vaccines themselves, but also on an understanding of the epidemiologic aspe cts of disease transmission (ref).Vaccination aims to prime the adaptive immune system to the antigens of a particular microbe so that a first infection induces a secondary response. The principle of vaccination is simple; to induce a primed state so that on first contact with the relevant infection, a rapid and effective secondary immune response will be mounted, leading to prevention of disease. Vaccination depends upon the ability of lymphocytes, both B and T cells, to respond to specific antigens and develop into memory cells, and therefore represents a form of activity enhanced adaptive immunity (ref).In 1999, the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) requested that vaccine makers should remove a organomercury compound called thiomersal from vaccines (ref). This was phased out of the United States of America and European vaccines, except for some preperations of influenza vaccine (ref). The CDC and the AAP decided that there was no harm in exercising caution, even if it did turn about to be unwarranted, however the actions sparked confusion and controversy which result in the diversion of attention and resources away from the efforts to determine the causes of autism (ref). Child vaccines which contained the thiomersal was alleged to contribute to autism (ref), however in 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee rejected any causal relationship between autism and thiomersal-containing vaccines (ref). However the incidence of autism increased steadily despite the removal of thiomersal from childhood vaccine (ref). thiomersal exposure has not been accepted as a factor in causing autism (ref). Immunisation safety is a real concern because all vaccines may cause side effects. Both healthcare workers and patients need reminding that immunisation is an induced controlled stimulus to the immune system, so therefore some adverse reactions can be expected. Most of the reactions however, are transient and mild. Immunisation safety concerns have existed since the day of the first available vaccine. Since the introduction of Jenners cowpox vaccine, the benefits of saving children from tragic outcomes of common diseases outweigh the risks of perceived adverse events following immunisation. Immunisation safety concerns are different from concerns about other medical interventions because they are administered to generally healthy individuals and the tolerance of adverse events following immunisation is subsequently lower compared to adverse events following medication for an existing illness (ref). The success of immunisation programmed depends on the public confidence in their safety despite the side effects vaccines may cause. Concerns about immunisation safety often follow a pattern: a medical condition is suggested as an adverse effect of the vaccination, then a premature announcement is made of the alleged effects which then results in several years to try and regain the publics confidence in the vaccine (ref). Vaccination in the United Kingdom became widespread in the ear;y 1800s after the work by Jenner (ref). Vaccination acts were brought in to force to encourage vaccination and it was made mandatory that all infants in 1853 were vaccinated (ref). Refusal to have the vaccinations received the highest penalty resulting in a prison sentence (ref). The relationship between the British State and its citizens significantly changed, causing a public backlash. In 1867, a law extended the requirements to the age of 14 years old, however, opponents focused in 1898 on it causing an infringement of individuals freedom, which resulted in a law allowing for conscientious objection to compulsory vaccination (ref). Compulsory vaccination policies at various times provoked opposition from people who believe that the government should not be infringing on individuals freedom to choose what medications they take, even if this increases a risk of disease to themselves and others (ref). Some vaccine critics claim that public health has never had any benefits from vaccination (ref). They argue that any reduction on communicable diseases, which were rampant in conditions where overcrowding, poor sanitation, poor diet and an almost non-existent hygiene existed, reduced due to the changes in the conditions excepting vaccination (ref). Others dispute that vaccines only give a temporary immunity and therefore boosters are required, whereas those who have survived the disease develop a permanent immunity (ref). Children who have survived diseases such as diphtheria go on to develop a natural immunity which will remain longer than any immunity developed by the vaccination (ref). Some critics argue that the benefits of reducing the mortality rates among the general population outweigh all health risks associated to older or weaker adults (ref). Vast improvements have been made to public health (ref). Despite vaccines causing side effects and immunisation safety is a real concern, public attention shifts away from the risks as the success of the immunisation programme increases (ref) and the incidence of disease decreases (ref). However health authorities are finding it challenging to preserve public support for the vaccination programmes (ref).The rate in diagnosis of autism has had a worldwide increase (ref) , driven by the broadened diagnostic criteria and increased awareness concerns have been fuelled that vaccines might cause autism (ref). Theories for this alleged association have mainly centred on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR vaccine (ref). however, studies in biology and epidemiology have failed to support these claims (ref). The MMR vaccine in the United Kingdom was the subject of controversy, when a paper was published in The Lancet in 1998. The paper written by a Gastroenterologist Dr Andrew Wakefield et al, reporting a small study of 12 children, whom mostly with autism spectrum disorders with sudden onset after administration of the Vaccine (ref). During a 1998 press conference, Andrew Wakefield suggested that it would be safer to give children the vaccine in three separate doses rather than a single vaccination. This suggestion was never supported by the paper and subsequent peer-reviewed studies failed to find any association between the autism and the vaccine (ref). In 2001 and 2002, the controversy grew momentum. In 2001 26% of family doctors felt that the government had failed to prove that there was no link between autism and the MMR (ref). By 2002, over 1257 stories were published (ref). The confidence in the MMR fell as a result of the scare, from 59% to 41% (ref). A survey of 366 family doct ors in the United Kingdom in 2003, reported that 77% would recommend giving the child the MMR vaccine, even if there was a close family history of autism (ref). In the same study an extremely small number, 3% of the family doctors thought that autism could sometimes be the caused by the MMR vaccine (ref). A similar survey (ref) found that confidence in the MMR had been increasing over the previous two years (ref). Most of the UK National Health Service doctors only had the combined vaccine and those who did not want to give their children the combined vaccine had to pay for the separate vaccines or not vaccinate their children (ref), which added to the controversy of the MMR. Tony Blair, who was the Prime Minister at the time, strongly supported the vaccines stating the vaccine was safe (ref mmr vaccine). However, on several occasions Tony Blair would refuse on grounds of personal privacy whether his son had received the vaccine, in contrast the now immunised (ref), The risks of children catching the disease while waiting for the full immunisation coverage decreases with the administration of the combined vaccine instead of separate vaccines (ref). The combined vaccines two injections cause the children less pain and distress, rather that the six injections required by the separate vaccines, and there is the likelihood of some being delayed or missed due to extra clinic visits (ref). Vaccination uptake had significantly increased in the UK when the MMR became available in 1988 (ref mmr vaccine). Health professionals have heavily criticised media coverage of the controversy from triggering a decline in vaccination rates (ref mmr). MMR vaccination compliance dropped significantly after the controversy began in the UK, from 92% in 1996 to 84% in 2002. In 2003, in some London boroughs, it was a low as 615, which is far below the rate needed to avoid an epidemic of measles (ref). The incidence of the three diseases increased significantly in the UK (ref). 56% cases of measles were confirmed in the 1998, this increased over the years and in 2006, 449 cases were reported in first five months of the year (ref)m and the first death since 1992, these cases occurred in children who were inadequately vaccinated (ref). In 1999, cases of mumps began to rising after years of very few cases and by the year 2005, there was a mumps epidemic with nearly 5000 notifications in January 2005 alone (ref). Disease outbreaks also caused casualties in nearby countries. In Ireland an outbreak in 2000 resulted in 1500 cases and 3 deaths, all as a result of the decrease vaccination rates following the MMR controversy (ref) Measles was declared an endemic in the UK in 2008 for the first time in 14 years. A population of susceptible children who would spread the disease was created following the low MMR vaccination rates (ref). MMR vaccination rates amongst English children have remained unchanged in 2007-08, a level to low to prevent another serious measles outbreak (ref). It later emerged that Andrew Wakefield had not informed the medical authorities or colleagues that he had received funding from litigants against vaccine manufacturers (ref). Wakefield has been heavily criticised for instigating a decline in the vaccination rates and medically (ref) especially on the way the research was conducted ethically (ref) The Sunday Times in 2009 reported that patient data was manipulated by Wakefield and misreported the results in his 1998 paper, creating the appearance of a link between autism and the MMR (ref). A systematic review of 31 scientific studies by the Cochrane Library in 2005 concluded that there is no credible evidence to support any links between Autism and the MMR vaccine, and that the MMR is necessary in the prevention of disease with carries the potential rick of complication and even death in some cases (ref). The report also highlighted that the lack of confidence in the MMR has damaged public health and that the design and reporting of the safety outcomes was largely inadequate (ref). Ensuring the safety of vaccination is a major component of the national immunisation programmes of most countries. A major part of this effort is surveillance, and scientific studies about the possible occurrence of adverse events following immunisation. Although a number of vaccine safety studies is increasing, this is not in response to any evidence about the true safety of vaccines, but in response to the increasing number of new vaccines being used and the complex nature of these vaccines. A number of vaccine safety studies have been conducted or are in progress, some in reaction to the climate of concern, some carried out proactively and others as part of ongoing surveillance. However, because the number of safety-orientated studies is increasing, one should be aware that this fact in itself could contribute to the concern.The internet has increasingly become a powerful means of international communication and an almost inexhaustible source of information, capable of playing an influential role in both the positive and the negative sense. It represents a direct and efficacious tool to spread a positive message and to stress the health benefits, economic attractiveness and safety of vaccination. However, inaccurate, misleading or simply wrong information regarding potential side effects or dangers of vaccination spreading through the internet exacerbates worries about vaccine safety and may cause parents to postpone or refuse vaccination of their children. A wide range of issues concerning vaccine safety is being taken up by anti-vaccination groups as well as by other groups whose concerns may reflect local customs, or religious, political or other beliefs. Anti-vaccination lobbies have also understood the possibilities of the internet can be exploited and could strengthen their means to campaign against vaccination. This is demonstrated by the occurrence of a multitude of specific websites heavily relying on emotional appeal while proclaiming a message that undermines the benefits of vaccination. Vaccine scares continue to have an impact on immunisation coverage. To respond to this challenge, there is a need to develop vaccine communication strategies that provide a balance between evidence-based information and advocacy and lobbying activities. Furthermore, compiling independent, international reviews of vaccine safety issues is required, together with relevant statements from authoritative neutral expert groups. This should be done within a h3 international collaboration, with direct, early and clear statements agreed on by authorities and other key parties, preceding public communications. Creating a positive environment for immunisation can be achieved by supporting evidence-based information thus repositioning the importance and value of vaccines and vaccination. This will ultimately ease the task of health care decision makers, especially in developing proactive communication strategies to deal with crises that have a potentially negative impact on vaccine coverage, and consequently on the health status of children.Loss of public confidence in vaccination is one of the greatest threats to public health and must be addressed by local, national and international bodies, pooling resources, to prepare for possible issues that might be taken up by anti-vaccination groups or the media. The health care community should actively promote, and personally recommend, the benefits and safety of vaccination in language that is readily and easily understood by the targeted audience.
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