World Immunization Week - April 24-30
Every year, millions of people worldwide are infected with preventable diseases. This is due to a lack of access to essential vaccines, which puts children and adults at risk of contracting serious illnesses such as polio, measles, and smallpox.
To help combat this issue, World Immunization Week was created in 1998 as an annual event observed in the last week of April. The purpose of this week is to identify challenges in gaining access to vaccines and overcome those barriers for the benefit of the global population. People now realize that nobody is truly immune unless everyone is safe from disease.
Under the theme of ‘The Big Catch-Up’, the World Health Organization is working with partners to accelerate rapid progress in countries to get back on track to ensure more people, particularly children, are protected from preventable diseases.
In 2021 alone, WHO estimates that more 18.2 million infants worldwide were not fully vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), pointing to a lack of access to immunization and other health services, and an additional 6.8 million are partially vaccinated. Of the 25 million, more than 60% of these children live in 10 countries: Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines. It is estimated that over 2 billion people live in areas with limited access to vaccines or poor health systems that hinder their use.
The goal of World Immunization Week is for more children, adults – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, allowing them to live happier, healthier lives.
History
Although great strides in inoculation had already been made in Asia and Africa, it was still very risky. Vaccination only really took off in England during the end of the 18th Century after becoming widely understood as a way to prevent smallpox. A patient waiting for her turn to see the doctor made an interesting comment. She remarked that she could not catch smallpox as she already had cowpox. Her comment did not escape the attention of Edward Jenner, a young medical student who was also present. He obsessed with the idea while completing his studies in London.
After graduating, he started practicing medicine in his hometown of Gloucestershire where he would eventually discover that the lady was right. While developing a cure for smallpox, he found that people who had cowpox had fewer chances of getting smallpox. After having successfully conducted the necessary experiments, he went on to give patients a light dose of cowpox to ensure their protection from the horrible plague of smallpox.
Further progress was made In 1798 when Jenner conducted another crucial test. Four children who had been vaccinated with cowpox were now given a weak form of smallpox to protect them against the disease. In support of his theory, not one of them caught smallpox. He made the great discovery of vaccination which today has helped researchers develop various vaccines to prevent life-threatening diseases.
Importance of World Immunization Week
The importance of World Immunization Week is to raise awareness of the need for vaccines and to make sure that everyone has access to them. Every year, millions of people worldwide are infected with preventable diseases due to a lack of access to essential vaccines, which puts children and adults at risk of contracting serious illnesses such as polio, measles, and smallpox.
Observing World Immunization Week supports research efforts to develop new vaccines. It also highlights the benefits of immunization in developing countries – many diseases such as the poliovirus and smallpox have been successfully eradicated in developed countries through the use of vaccines. This week helps create awareness about the benefits of immunization to prevent the spread of various life-threatening diseases.
Throughout the week, various seminars are held to raise awareness about the long-term benefits and temporary side effects of different types of vaccines. Nearly all types of vaccines have side effects that are usually mild and don't need medical attention. Many people don't get vaccinated without proper knowledge and information for fear of experiencing these side effects.
Observing World Immunization Week
Read up on the history of vaccination
With this week focused on immunization, it's a good opportunity to learn about diseases that have plagued man throughout the centuries and how we've dealt with them. Go to your local library or use the internet to learn about different diseases that have plagued humankind throughout the years. Learn about these viruses and how they are prevented by vaccines and why everyone should get vaccinated.
Strengthen your immune system
We all want healthy immune systems, but it's not always easy to get them. Working on your immune system is a good way to prevent life-threatening diseases, and boosting your natural defenses can even help you recover faster from an illness. If you have a weakened immune system, you may be at a greater risk of getting viruses like the flu. To prevent this from happening, get vaccinated and strengthen your immune system.
Collect funds for vaccination camps
Partner with different charitable organizations that provide vaccination to children across the globe to prevent diseases such as chickenpox and measles. Funds are needed in the research and development of vaccines where you can support efforts by providing financial assistance.
World Immunization Week is an important part of a global movement to protect people from dangerous, infectious diseases. It's a week during which world leaders, the media, the private sector, health workers, and people everywhere can raise awareness and apply pressure where necessary to make sure everyone benefits from vaccines. Ultimately, the world would benefit greatly if every one of us took this important step for good health.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week/2023
https://www.worldimmunizationweek.org/
https://nationaltoday.com/world-immunization-week/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/