What Is Immunization ?
Immunization is the process of becoming immune or resistant to a disease through the administration of a vaccine. The body is able to produce antibodies to the components of the vaccine, conferring protection to the vaccinated individual. Immunizations allow us to not only protect ourselves, but our entire community.
Why is Immunization important ?
Immunization saves lives. Immunization is one of the best ways to protect yourself, your children and the community from a variety of viral and bacterial infections. Through vaccination, individuals can become immunized, illustrating one of the most important aspects of infectious disease science and public health: prevention. Contracting a vaccine-preventable illness can cost lost wages, high hospital bills, and potentially lead to disability or serious illness. Vaccination is a simple, cost-effective and safe method of conferring immunity.
Immunization Through Vaccination
TOP 5 Important Reasons Why you should get vaccinated
- Vaccination Promotes Public Health and Protection from Different Diseases
Vaccines work with our bodies to produce the same antibodies that we would produce if we contracted the actual illness, without the discomfort, pain, and potential disability of the illness itself. Vaccination allows an entire population to become immunized against multiple viruses and bacteria, thereby completely eradicating or significantly hindering the spread of these dangerous illnesses.
2. Vaccines are Safe
Vaccines go through a rigorous process prior to being approved for use. This process includes research, discovery, pre-clinical testing, clinical testing and regulatory approval. Development of a vaccine can take a long time because the process is thorough and it is constantly monitored before it is approved for release. Several phases, each with significant oversight and non-biased assessment, are implemented to ensure that the vaccines work safe and effectively.
3. Vaccines are important to overall health
Vaccines play an important role in keeping you healthy by preventing illnesses, or reducing the severity of the illnesses you do contract.This minimizes the potential of hospitalization and serious complications following illness, such as encephalitis, paralysis, deafness, scarring, pneumonia, and permanent disability.
4. Vaccines protect the vulnerable
Older adults and infants are at increased risk of contracting serious diseases and complications as a result of weaker or underdeveloped immune systems, or the inability to be vaccinated. Those who have compromised immune systems due to HIV, cancer, or immunosuppressive therapy are also vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccination amongst the healthy population provides protection, also called Herd Immunity, for those who are most vulnerable.
5. Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do
As part of a community and society as a whole, it is the personal responsibility of every healthy person to get vaccinated. As communities, we have to consider the impact of these serious illnesses on those who need our protection: older adults, infants, and those who are immunocompromised. This one act can contribute to keeping our most vulnerable safe and healthy.
