Importance of Immunization on The Immune System and Health of The Body

Introduction

It’s no secret that vaccines are one of the most effective forms of disease prevention that humankind has devised. The body’s immune system is already an amazing and intricate protection, but in a world of such rapidly evolving and emerging pathogens, vaccines help support and sustain a healthy immune system by stimulating the adaptive immune system. During infancy and childhood especially, when the immune system may be too weak to fend off rampant microorganisms that can easily affect a child’s development, vaccines serve as an efficient method of preparing and strengthening the production and awareness of the immune system. Despite the apparent advantages of vaccination, greatly heated controversy surrounds the method of treatment. In a recent statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), “vaccination has greatly reduced the burden of infectious diseases. Only clean water, also considered to be a basic human right, performs better. Paradoxically, a vociferous anti-vaccine lobby thrives today in spite of the undeniable success of vaccination programs against formerly fearsome diseases that are now rare in developed countries” (World Health Organization, 2015). This begs the question, why are vaccines resisted and opposed?

Importance of Immunization on the Immune System and Health of the Body

Some of the most famous assertions regarding vaccination risks have to do with detrimental side effects. In an article addressing the side effects of vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirmed, “any vaccine can cause side effects. For the most part, these are minor (for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever) and go away within a few days” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). These side effects are to be expected because, “vaccines consist of killed or modified microbes, parts of microbes, or microbial DNA that trick the body into thinking an infection has occurred” and thus stimulates a response similar to an actual infection (Prevention, 2015). Additionally, the side effects are generally mild compared to the potential severity of the diseases they prevent.

Common are claims proposing a connection between vaccinations and developmental disorders, such as autism and the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, yet in my own research and study, I found no reputable nor scientifically reliable studies showing a connection between these two or any other combination of vaccination and disease. In like manner, the “Institute of Medicine (IOM) Immunization Safety Review Committee, an independent body of experts who have no conflict of interest with pharmaceutical companies or organizations that make vaccine recommendations, studied a possible MMR-autism link and found no evidence supporting such a connection” (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2015). These findings are crucial for public understanding and can help alleviate unfounded fears.

Consequences of Vaccine Hesitancy

For various reasons, vaccines are combated, yet a greater health risk is found in rejecting and refusing vaccination. Vaccinations are routinely offered during childhood, the preliminary stages of the immune system's development. Comparatively, the immune systems of children vaccinated fight disease better than children without, the New York State Department of Health (NYDH) upholds that “a child's immune system is more vulnerable without vaccinations. And if it weren't for vaccinations, many children could become seriously ill or even die from diseases such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough” which are diseases that, thanks to vaccines, are almost, if not completely, non-existent (New York State Department of Health, 2015). Furthermore, the concept of herd immunity is vital in protecting those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, illustrating the communal responsibility in vaccination practices.

Yet the effects of avoiding vaccination extend beyond the individual. The child of an unvaccinated mother is at risk of more prenatal disease than a vaccinated mother, and unvaccinated individuals pose a greater risk to people with a compromised immune system because their likelihood of exposure to diseases that could be prevented by vaccination is increased (New York State Department of Health, 2015).

Conclusion

The risks of refusing vaccination far outweigh any sort of proposed hazard, and the benefits are too numerous and significant to overlook. Each individual must consider these effects for themselves, and perhaps there are exceptional circumstances that may affect an individual’s decision to vaccinate, but in the vast majority of cases, vaccinations are proven to bolster the immune system and help secure healthy development and longevity. As society continues to evaluate and improve vaccination strategies, it is imperative to rely on scientific evidence to guide these decisions, ensuring the health and well-being of future generations.

References

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015). Institute of Medicine (IOM) Immunization Safety Review Committee. Retrieved from [link]
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Vaccine Side Effects. Retrieved from [link]
• New York State Department of Health. (2015). The Importance of Vaccinations. Retrieved from [link]
• World Health Organization. (2015). Vaccination Programs. Retrieved from [link]