Vaccination

Vaccinations for Adults and Children: Why They're Essential

Prevention is the best way to protect your health, and no defense mechanism is stronger than vaccination. Vaccines protect both individuals and communities from serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Whether it is for young children, who need early immunization during their most vulnerable years, or adults, who require constant boosters for continuous immunity against emerging threats, vaccines are necessary. Vaccines should be prioritized for all age groups, as they play a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting overall public health and wellbeing.

How do vaccines help you?

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to recognize specific pathogens so it can produce antibodies that will fight back the disease without causing illness. When you receive a vaccine, it contains a weakened or inactivated form of the pathogen so your immune system can identify it. Once exposed, your immune system remembers how to recognize the pathogen and fights it off, providing a quick and effective response without causing significant harm.

Role of vaccines in children

In the first few years of life, a child's immune system is still developing, making them more susceptible to infections. The administration of vaccines early in life helps in building a solid foundation for the child's immunity, thus protecting them before they are exposed to these harmful infections.

They also keep children protected throughout their lifetime—beginning from birth into adolescence—from potentially life-threatening diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, and polio. These conditions can lead to permanent disabilities or even death but are largely preventable with vaccines. Adhering to the recommended schedule of vaccinations in children is essential for protection against diseases.

Vaccination among adults

While vaccines are normally associated with childhood, they hold the same importance among adults as their immunity gradually weakens with age. Many diseases can affect both adults and children, which is why booster vaccines are required to strengthen and maintain immunity. Vaccines like Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) may require a booster every 10 years to remain effective.

Adults with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or respiratory issues are at higher risk for complications, making vaccination even more crucial. Staying up to date with vaccinations not only protects individual health but also reduces the spread of infections to vulnerable populations, contributing to public health.

How vaccines contribute to herd immunity

While providing individual protection, vaccination also contributes to a larger public health benefit. When enough people are vaccinated within a population, it creates what’s called herd immunity. This reduces the spread of diseases, which is particularly beneficial for those who cannot be vaccinated, such as babies too young for certain vaccines or individuals with compromised immune systems.

The role of vaccination in disease eradication

Vaccines play a key role in global disease eradication. For example, smallpox was successfully eliminated with a world immunization program, and poliomyelitis is nearing eradication with only a few countries still reporting some cases. This achievement highlights the ability of widespread vaccination to wipe out diseases and protect not only those who are immunized but also individuals who cannot receive vaccines due to medical reasons.

Vaccination is a collective responsibility of all populations, contributing to protection and overall wellbeing across the world. Embracing vaccination will help create a world where preventable diseases are no longer a threat.

Vaccination for Children available at AIG Hospitals

Vaccination for Adults available at AIG Hospitals