Immunisation describes the process whereby people are protected against illness caused by infection with micro-organisms (formally called pathogens). The term vaccine refers to the material use for immunization.
A vaccine usually contains an
agent resembling a disease-causing bacteria. When this biological preparation
is injected into your body, your immune system recognizes the agent and
destroys it.
However, your immune system
remembers the agent and next time, when the actual microbe attacks you, it
safeguards you against the disease. Vaccines are usually made from the toxins
of the killed or weakened microorganism.
Importance
of Vaccination:
Getting,
immunized costs less than getting treated for the diseases as the vaccines
protect you from getting infected and builds resistance towards the germ.
Vaccination not only protects you but indirectly also protects the community.
Some
Facts on Immunization:
·
Immunization
saves 3 million lives every year
·
More
than 1 million infants and young children all over the world die every year
from rotavirus , diarrhoea and pneumococcal disease. Both of these diseases can
be prevented through vaccination
·
The
global measles mortality rate has reduced by 74%. This has been possible due to
intense campaigns for vaccination worldwide.
·
Flu
vaccine has led to a 70% decline in hospitalizations.
·
Hepatitis B vaccines have caused a drop in the incidence of liver cancer
·
By
2020, all the countries are aiming to increase vaccination coverage by 90%
nationally.
·
Vaccination is very safe and effective.
·
Vaccination is a major
step towards the prevention of infectious disease in children and adults.
Important
Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child
1)
Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of vaccine-preventable
diseases which can include amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs,
hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.
2)
Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles,
mumps, and whooping cough, are still a threat.
3)
If children aren’t vaccinated, they can spread
the disease to other children who are too young to be vaccinated or to people
with weakened immune systems, such as transplant recipients and people with
cancer.
4)
Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists,
doctors, and healthcare professionals.
5)
Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may
cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal
compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines
prevent.
6)
If
exposure to a disease occurs in a community, there is little to no risk of an
epidemic if people have been immunized.
·
Vaccinations aren’t just for children.
·
Adults
need them too at times, depending on factors such as age, health conditions,
travel plans and personal vaccination record.
·
Adults
can be vaccinated for a range of diseases such as swine flu, typhoid,
hepatitis, tetanus and pneumonia. Vaccines such as hepatitis A and B,
pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis, rabies, human papillomavirus vaccine
and tetanus are the most common vaccinations given in India.
It is important to take vaccines
as precautions while travelling to certain countries. For example, yellow fever
vaccination is needed by Indians travelling to African countries. We don’t have
yellow fever in India yet – but the country has all the favourable parameters
for it to thrive quite well. So if someone from India travels to Africa,
contracts the disease and returns to India, they can spread the disease.
Similarly, vaccinations against
tuberculosis, typhoid and meningococcal meningitis are required if you travel
to the US or European countries.
To Know more about vaccines for
adults and children please ,visit Wockhardt Hospital .
Source:
https://www.wockhardthospitals.com/node/2492
Source:
https://www.wockhardthospitals.com/node/2492
Comments
Post a Comment