Topic 8.4
How have vaccines influenced the health and wellbeing of different communities around the world?
This research project will take you on a journey to explore the impact of vaccines across diverse communities worldwide. By examining real-world examples, you’ll uncover how vaccines transform lives, address health challenges, and improve living conditions in developed and developing countries.
Research Project
You will discover what it’s like to be part of a different community. You need to research one of the communities in the flip cards below and learn how vaccines have changed their world. If in a group, share your findings with them.
Describe what it would be like to live in the community you have selected:
- What housing is there?
- Do the children attend school?
- Would they have running water?
- Would their parents work?
- How affluent is this community?
Research the following points on your community and the disease that most affects it:
- What is the disease caused by, and how does the disease affect the body?
- Who does it affect in the community?
- How does the disease impact that community?
- How would a vaccine for the disease change the lives of that community?
- How is the vaccine delivered?
- How many doses are required to be effective?
- How many deaths has the vaccine prevented around the world?
- What factors affect its distribution and where it is needed (your community)?
Afghanistan
Hi, my name is Adeeb.
I live in a remote village in the mountains of Afghanistan.
My dad made our house using mud and clay. We don’t get any visitors or outsiders.
My dad says that there is a polio epidemic in the region, and he is very worried. Can you tell me why?
Australia
Tyler is a 2 week old baby who lives in Brisbane, Australia.
He lives in a house in a rich suburb.
His parents have insisted that all their friends and family have the pertussis vaccination before anyone visits Tyler.
Why would anyone from this community need a pertussis vaccine?
Africa
Mary is a 2 year old in Nigeria. She lives in a hut made from materials from the local rubbish dump.
Clean water is unavailable in her village, so her mother walks many miles to find water from a well.
Sometimes, the well becomes polluted, and there is an outbreak of cholera. Why is it important for Mary’s mum to find a clean water well?
United States of America
My name is Miles, and I live with my mum, dad and sister, Ella, in San Fransisco. We frequently visit Disney Land during the school holidays.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of measles at the resort, and our parents are worried.
We were never vaccinated as children, as our parents don’t believe in it. I don’t think there is anything to worry about – I mean, this is America.
United Kingdom
Hey, I’m Laura and I live in London.
I am 15 and I take the “tube” to school.
Mum says I have been vaccinated against Meningococcal disease, but I don’t know why and what types I’m protected against.
Surely it’s really rare in a developed country?
China
I am Li Wei and I used to live in a farming village.
We have recently moved to the city to find work.
My parents did not vaccinate me as we lived in a remote part of the country and vaccines were not available. They were not vaccinated either.
My dad