The benefits of Immunization
Immunization by vaccines – which protect against disease keep people from falling ill than to focus only on helping them recover once they are ill. Infection is reduced, strain on health – care system is eased and money is saved for other health services. Because of immunization campaign carried out by WHO, some diseases were well controlled such as measles and polio that already eradicated in some regions. For Smallpox eradicated from the world.
Global Immunization Coverage
Coverage has greatly increased since WHO’s Expanded Program on immunization such a DTP3 (3 doses of the diphtheria – tetanus – pertussis combination vaccine ) . But some areas were not reached including many in South Asia and sub- Saharan Africa.
New Vaccines
Numerous new vaccines have been produced and reduced incidence of disease such as meningitis, rotavirus and pneumococcal disease.
History
Treatment against smallpox by Edward Jenne was the first systematic effort to control a disease through immunization. Louis Pasteur developed the first vaccine to protect human against rabies . Then many vaccines were developed such as vaccines against diphtheria , tetanus , tuberculosis , Salk polio , measles and mumps.
How vaccines work
Vaccines typically provide the immune system with harmless copies of an antigen a portion of the surface of a bacterium or virus that immune system recognizes as “ Foreign”. Once an antigen is noticed by the immune system , white blood cells called B-lymphocytes create a protein called an Antibody that is designed to attach to that antigen . Immune systems are designed to remember and action like this for year , decades or over a lifetime.
Effeteness and safely
All vaciness used for routine immunization are very effective in preventing disease , although no vaccine attains 100 % effectiveness. They are very safe , and side effects are minor.
Cost effectiveness of Immunization
Immunization is considered among the most cost-effective of heath investments. It’s cost is clearly compensated for by its life-saving value.
The Decade of Vaccines
The effort to increase immunization coverage around the world is continuing with the Global Vaccine Action plum to promotes the discovery , development of vaccines and delivery around the world. The aim is to prevent the deaths of millions of children over the next decade .