The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to promote health through the use of vaccines as a key to preventing diseases. During April 24th-30th we celebrate the World Immunization Week to spread the word and educate people on why it is so important to get vaccinated.
Vaccines save millions of lives around the world from deadly diseases providing immunity in people at all life stages. Immunization has two very important roles and these are to protect others and to protect yourself. When you get vaccinated, you are able to provide care for those in need without the risk of getting infected. On the other hand, while you protect yourself, you also protect others by not spreading diseases around those that can't get vaccinated such as certain infants, seriously ill adults, and elderly people with a high risk of getting serious diseases.
But why is there people who still hesitate not to get immunizations? There are various reasons, from fear of the ingredients, myths regarding autism, side effects, etc. but all of them lead to a lack of information. The process of vaccine manufacture is lengthy for a reason. Before medications and vaccines get to the market, they go through a lot of experimental processes and are well studied before they are accessible to the public. This goes along with a few concerns regarding certain ingredients within vaccines such as formaldehyde and mercury. All of the ingredients within a vaccine exist in amounts that are proven safe. In addition, ingredients like formaldehyde already exist in living things as they are part of metabolic processes and mercury gets excreted from our bodies. Regarding side effects, most vaccines have mild side effects such as injection site reaction/swelling, redness, and pain and can be treatable. Sometimes it is better to take the risk of a side effect than getting the disease itself. Just like with any medication, everybody reacts differently to vaccines, but so does our bodies to serious and infectious diseases.
Immunization opens the opportunity for achieving health care access early in life, offers every child the chance of living a healthy life and it is a strategy that can eradicate illnesses, curb antimicrobial resistance and improve public health. If we don't spread the word on how important vaccines are, we don't get to prevent, and instead, we will end up treating the illness, trying to save lives which is less effective during outbreaks and it also costs more than prevention. Last but not least, it is important to emphasize that vaccines are not only preventing illnesses but also deaths.
To know more about the importance of immunization, how it works, and to get your questions answered, click here for more information on trusted sources. Remember to spread the word, share your stories, and use #VaccinesWork on social media.
References
WHO. World Immunization Week. https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-immunization-week/world-immunization-week-2020/key-messages (accessed 2020 Apr 24)
Vimeo. OHP VAXVOX Berlin. https://vimeo.com/382930237/e9a2f2a3ea (accessed 2020 Apr 24)
CDC. Vaccine Safety. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/index.html (accessed 2020 Apr 24)
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