Vaccinations and their risks

4. The impact of political upheaval

Required Resources

• Student Worksheet 3
• Slides 13-18

Delivery

• Episode 4 explores the impact of political unrest on healthcare and vaccination programmes previously offered to civilians within specific countries. Giving students a very real understanding of the need for a community-wide vaccination programme, Slides with accompanying imagery explain the impact of the break-down in healthcare services in Iraq and the spiralling loss of control of cholera. From the Marsh Arabs forced to flee the south for fear of persecution, to the breakdown in infrastructure (roads, transport) and loss of public records, Iraqi healthcare collapsed under Saddam Hussein. By the time Allied Forces occupied Iraq and began to support the re-emergence of democracy, huge swathes of the population were no longer immune to water-born cholera.
• Having talked through the Slides, distribute Student Worksheet 3. This provides further context for learning, including details of the various roles that a peacekeeping force such as the UN must assume. Students should answer the questions in part one of this Worksheet and then work in groups to debate the priorities of such a force.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Students may need more time and support in order to understand the issues faced by an occupying force.

Higher Ability:

Soldiers sent to Iraq were vaccinated against specific (possible) threats including anthrax and plague. These were not administered as part of a compulsory vaccination programme for all those being sent to Iraq. Students may wish to debate the ethics of a forced military vaccination programme where vaccines are sometimes developed and administered to address new threats and do not have the benefit of substantial testing.