Global vaccination
ABSTRACT
Vaccination has improved health globally. However, this should not make us forget the origin of immunization, particularly by discoveries of Edward Jenner. He came up with a vaccine to smallpox. This vaccine leads to prevention and immunity to smallpox. Smallpox was a deadly disease, but through Edward Jenner’s contributions, we have a vaccine. In most countries, for example, Africa, Asia, among others, the effects of smallpox were widely evident. Vaccination by Edward Jenner has contributed to global health. Out of these vaccinations, such disease and rinderpest are no longer affecting children. Elimination of polio is imminent if the measles vaccine will be successful. Despite the steps made so far, we have children dying out of Pneumonia, diarrhoea. Development of vaccines to more complex diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, among other illnesses, has taken a significant step. Therefore, eradicating the diseases, vaccines ought to be developed.
Keywords: Vaccine, Smallpox, Health, Immunity
Introduction
Apart from clean water, washing hands and sanitation in general, vaccination has contributed so much to global health. Development and use of vaccines have reduced mainly child mortality rates courtesy of discoveries made by Edward Jenner on immunization. Globally, health-wise, there has been an improvement.
Smallpox vaccine was first applied in man. Out of this vaccination, smallpox was completely eradicated. They were getting vaccines with a lot of challenges. However, how they overcame them has been a lesson today in the production of other vaccines.Development of smallpox vaccine was attributed to easier identification of symptoms, isolation and application of the vaccine. Poliovirus has been a challenge since it has hidden symptoms, which take time before showing up. Researchers on vaccines have made a milestone in their discoveries that human vaccines can also be applied in animals.
Pasteur in the year 1885 developed rabies vaccine applied to human beings. However, the vaccine led to side effects. In the 1950s and 1960s attenuated vaccines for measles, poliomyelitis was developed. Subsequently, out of these vaccines, others have been developed, for example, typhoid and tuberculosis. These vaccines give strong immunity and are cheap to make.
In developing countries, illness and death were severe. Vaccination was not widely spread. The available vaccine was available to the wealthy in society. Low-income families experienced difficulty getting the vaccine. In the wake of this, the WHO expanded a programme to do vaccination widely across the world. Children in their earlier years are vaccinated for measles, polio among others ailments. Today a broader area to offer vaccines across the globe is covered. The success of this programme is due to the affordability of the vaccines. Therefore, in developing countries, there has been a significant reduction in deaths from measles and tetanus.
Discoveries of Edward Jenner many years ago has contributed to global health on a large scale. However, the vaccines developed nowadays might be expensive for developing countries where they are required most. Currently, scientists are working on getting a vaccine for Coronavirus. Most developing countries are struggling economically, therefore unable to contribute to the enhanced costs of the vaccine. However, these middle-level countries are required to provide to the vaccination programmes. There is no other way to ensure a healthy population and environment other than investing in research of vaccines for various ailments.