We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives.

Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right. It’s also one of the best health investments money can buy. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. They underpin global health security and will be a vital tool in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.

HOW VACCINES WORK

Vaccines “teach” your body how to defend itself when germs, such as viruses or bacteria, invade it:

• Vaccines expose you to a very small, very safe amount of viruses or bacteria that have been weakened or killed.
• Your immune system then learns to recognize and attack the infection if you are exposed to it later in life.
• As a result, you will not become ill, or you may have a milder infection. This is a natural way to deal with infectious diseases.

Four types of vaccines are currently available:

• Live virus vaccines use the weakened (attenuated) form of the virus. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine are examples.
• Killed (inactivated) vaccines are made from a protein or other small pieces taken from a virus or bacteria. The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is an example.
• Toxoid vaccines contain a toxin or chemical made by the bacteria or virus. They make you immune to the harmful effects of the infection, instead of to the infection itself. Examples are the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.
• Biosynthetic vaccines contain manmade substances that are very similar to pieces of the virus or bacteria. The Hepatitis B vaccine is an example.

WHY WE NEED VACCINES

For a few weeks after birth, babies have some protection from germs that cause diseases. This protection is passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period, this natural protection goes away.

Vaccines help protect against many diseases that used to be much more common. Examples include tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and polio. Many of these infections can cause serious or life-threatening illnesses and may lead to life-long health problems. Because of vaccines, many of these illnesses are now rare.

Benefit of Immunization

1. Immunization is a simple and effective way of protecting yourself and your family.
2. Immunization not only protests your own family, but also others by helping to control serious diseases in our community.
3. Immunization works by triggering the immune system to fight against certain diseases. if a vaccinated person comes in contact with these diseases, their immune system is able to respond more effectively.

Abbreviations:

1. BCG: Bacillus Calmette Guerin
2. OPV: Oral poliovirus vaccine
3. DTwP: Diphtheria, tetanus, whole cell Pertussis
4. DT: Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids
5. TT: Tetanus toxoid
6. Hep B: Hepatitis B vaccine
7. MMR: Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine
8. Hib: Hemophilus influenzae Type ‘b’ Vaccine
9. IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
10. Td: Tetanus, reduced dose diphtheria toxoid
11. HPV: Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine
12. PCV: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
13. TdaP: Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids and a Cellular Pertussis Vaccine

Which Immunization Do My Children Need?

It’s important to keep your children up to date on their vaccines. The benefit of doing so is that your children will be protected from diseases that could cause them serious health problems. The recommended immunizations for children 0-6 years of age include:

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• Varicella (Chicken pox)
• Pneumococcal
• Influenza
• Hepatitis A
• Poliovirus
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Meningococcal (for certain high-risk groups)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis