History
Before the 20th century, the only way to become immune to diseases, such as measles and smallpox, was to be exposed to it and one would hope to survive that disease. If one would survive the disease, this is how he/she would prevent future infection. The development of vaccines revolutionized how we treat all diseases.
As vaccines were developed and widely used, rates of infectious diseases declined- until today. Vaccines don’t just protect yourself, they protect others in the community. Most vaccine-preventable diseases spread from person to person. If one person in a community gets a disease, he/she can spread it to others. Therefore, the more people vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.
What’s Happening Today
One can agree that parents want the best for their child(ren). When a parent feels as though their child(ren) are in danger, it is a fact that parents will want to protect their child(ren). Recently in the media, parents feel as though there are more risks than benefits when vaccinating their child(ren)- essentially seeing vaccines as a danger to them. Therefore, parents have started doing their own research which have made some consider opposing vaccines.
Many parents are choosing to not vaccinate their child(ren) because they are concerned that their child(ren) will experience severe side effects or end up with a disease. Parents who choose not to vaccinate their child(ren) are labeled as ANTI-VAXXERS. Anti-Vaxx parents spend countless hours researching the vaccination process; this includes and is not limited to the side effects. In the end, most go against medical advice but they are doing what they think is best to protect their child(ren).
Simply Explained
Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens. To do this, certain molecules from the pathogen must be introduced into the body to trigger a response.
These molecules that are introduced to the body via vaccinations and are called antigens, which are present in all vaccines. By injecting antigens into the body, the immune system learns how to recognize them and produce antibodies against bacteria and viruses. After the immune system recognizes any bacteria and/or virus, antigens immediately attack so the pathogen cannot spread and cause sickness.
Taking Action
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) happens every August and their goal is for people to completely understand how vaccines work to protect people of all ages. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that one should use their resources- such as their family doctors- to better understand why vaccinations are the best way to go.
How Do I Make the Right Choice?
Not knowing who is vaccinatinated and who isn’t is hard in today’s world, but you can still protect yourself and your loved ones. To protect yourself and your loved ones, you can..
- Visit the Center for Disease Control and Preventions
- Take part in National Immunization Awareness
- Talk to your doctor
- Follow the hashtag #ivax2protect
These suggestions will not 100% protect you from getting sick, but you then will be informed and guided to making the right decision.
