Do we or don’t we? Should we or shouldn’t we? Now more than ever, people the world over are talking about vaccinations, and while these conversations tend to focus on the Covid-19 vaccine, we should not forget the critical role of other vaccinations in general healthcare.
Vaccines Bring Us Closer is this year’s theme for Global Immunisation Week, aimed at promoting engagement about vaccinations and their role in improving the health and wellbeing of the population – no matter age, status or place of residence.
Since the first recorded vaccine in 1798, the landscape of human health and medicine has been significantly altered. The impact of vaccines has ranged from the eradication of polio and smallpox to the prevention of whooping cough, yellow fever, tuberculosis and measles.
The current pandemic has given us a taste of what it’s like to live without the protection afforded by vaccines. Many of these vaccines are administered as a child, with annual flu vaccines being administered yearly.
Global Immunisation Week takes place during the last week of every April, and with the world focusing on Covid-19 and its vaccination and attention being shifted away from the importance of routine vaccines, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is using this week to bring the focus back.
It is placing emphasis on increasing and building people’s trust and confidence in vaccines, as well as calling for new partners to invest in breaking critical barriers that prevent parts of the population from receiving vaccines. This is an important message as many children have not been vaccinated during the pandemic, leaving them at risk of serious diseases like measles and polio.
Rapidly circulating misinformation around vaccinations adds to this threat.
Vaccines – what’s the big deal?
For over 200 years the medical and science industry has been working on developing different vaccines to protect us against and put a stop to, deadly diseases. Summarised, a vaccine is developed using parts of certain pathogens, i.e. harmful bacteria or viruses that are then injected into our bodies so that our immune systems can develop antibodies to fight the disease should we develop it.
Yes, we may develop certain symptoms of the disease once we have the vaccine; however, this is because of the way our bodies are built. Our immune systems are designed to attack any “invaders” on our systems by generating antibodies; however, this does not happen straight away, giving the pathogen a chance to release certain symptoms.
This does not mean a person develops a full-blown disease, it is just our body’s way of protecting us. This is our body’s way of protecting us and we don’t develop the full-blown disease.
Herd immunity
Not only do vaccines protect an individual from developing a disease, but it also protects our entire population. When the number of individuals who have had a certain vaccination reaches a critical number, herd immunity is developed. This means there are enough individuals vaccinated to protect the entire population from developing the specific said disease, whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Those who say no
Anti-vaxxers believe vaccines will only bring about the disease in people rather than seeing vaccines as a disease protection and prevention tool, and some believe they cause developmental issues in children.
There is a belief that childhood vaccinations initiate the onset of autism, a neurological impairment known to impair social interaction and communication. This school of thought comes from a discredited study that linked vaccines with the onset of autism; however, the study was later found to be fraudulent and the results invalid.
Nevertheless, there are still many groups who believe this to be true and don’t vaccinate their children, putting their children at greater risk for developing these diseases.
It is said that there are approximately 20 million children globally who have not been vaccinated against preventable childhood diseases. In certain parts of the world, certain diseases are rare and therefore the need for these vaccinations is not seen to be a necessary cost. People in rural areas are also prevented from accessing vaccinations due to costs, which is why WHO is putting such a strong emphasis on getting enough funding to break these barriers.
The future of vaccines
With scientific advancements, the development and implementation of vaccines is fast advancing. Clinical trials are being run for vaccines against certain cancers, HIV, Aids, Alzheimer’s and other fatal diseases. Stop for a minute to imagine a world without them.
Flu vaccines
Annual flu vaccines are a bit different in that different vaccines are developed yearly, depending on the specific strain of flu. This is an optional vaccine that is generally administered to high-risk people who are more likely to have serious, if not fatal, reactions to the flu. This includes the elderly, those with asthma and other life-threatening diseases, such as cancer or HIV and Aids.
However, with the reality of Covid-19 being so rife in our communities, we implore consumers to have the annual flu vaccine to help develop a healthy immune system so they can prevent, and fight, the disease properly.
A small prick to the arm may seem unimportant; however, making sure you and your children get the right vaccines can be a matter of life or death for you and those around you.
Vaccines improve and continue to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone everywhere throughout life, so book a slot for your shot.
Article by Lizeth Kruger, Dis-Chem national clinic manager
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