World Immunization Week - Vaccines Bring Us Closer.
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April 19, 2021
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World Immunization Week - Vaccines Bring Us Closer.
What is small, portable, affordable and strong enough to save lives? Any guess?
It's a vaccine. Vaccines are one of the most economical health tools ever invented in the field of health. World Immunization Week is being observed from April 24 to April 30.
The theme for this year is "Vaccines Bring Us Closer", which emphasizes how all vaccines or immunizations allow people to be together by preventing contagious illnesses at all stages of life.
The aim of World Immunization Week is to encourage people of all ages to use vaccines to protect themselves from diseases. Every year, vaccination saves millions of lives and is generally regarded as one of the most popular and cost-effective health measures in the world.
Countries around the world are in the throes of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in the lead up to the World Immunization Week this year. In order to ensure that ground is not lost in combating preventive diseases, international communities like the World Bank and World Health Organization are helping countries in assisting and coordinating the Immunization programme during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5Things you need to know about vaccines
- Immunization has saved up to 3 million lives every year. Vaccines help prepare the body to fight against germs that cause diseases, such as bacteria and viruses.
- Vaccines have a good track record of success. The medical interventions, like a vaccine, have a global, life-saving effect. It has contributed to the eradication or drastic reduction of various infectious diseases like polio, wild poliovirus to name a few.
- Childhood mortality has dropped drastically. Between 1990 and 2017, there was a dramatic decline – by almost 65% – in the number of children who were killed due to preventable vaccine diseases.
- Vaccines defend against antimicrobial resistance. This is simply an excellent way of saying that immunization prevents people from becoming infected with preventive diseases and thus reduces or prevents antibiotic requirements.
- Vaccines are a gateway to a healthy life. Not only do vaccines save lives, but they also help combat poverty. By 2030, vaccines will prevent 24 million people from entering poverty in the world's poorest countries by keeping people healthy.
Don't Ignore Your Child's Vaccinations
The COVID-19 pandemic causes parents and children worldwide to postpone important vaccinations. Experts are afraid that many diseases can be prevented later in the year. Vaccination is a vital health service that can be influenced by the present COVID-19 pandemic, says the World Health Organization. The premier organizations have said in a recent statement that, disrupting immunization services for short periods can lead to more susceptible individuals and increase the likelihood of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD's) outbreak-prone diseases such as measles. Hence if your child’s vaccination is due then kindly do not postpone it.
Mis-information is a threat
As per UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta, "misinformation on vaccines is as dangerous as disease." It rapidly spreads and poses an imminent health risk for everyone. According to UNICEF, the world's health and well-being have improved significantly in the past three decades, with vaccinations that have led to a sizeable decrease in under-five deaths.
At the moment, serious challenges arise on the verge of eradicating deadly conditions affecting millions of kids.
Hence, we appeal to everyone to make an informed decision and never miss a vaccine, be it for an adult or child. Let's create a healthy and disease-free world.