Vaccines have been instrumental in protecting countless lives from deadly diseases, preventing many of us from succumbing to the clutches of the grave. They have been celebrated for their pivotal role in combating illnesses that once posed significant threats to humanity. When a person receives a vaccination, it bestows upon them a sense of trust, akin to the biblical verse "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil." This trust stems from being vaccinated against diseases like measles, chickenpox, and smallpox, saving us from the perils of those menacing valleys.
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While a vast majority acknowledge the life-saving impact of vaccines, some still harbor concerns about potential adverse effects, believing that vaccines may do more harm than good. During the Covid-19 vaccination drive, numerous videos surfaced on the internet, highlighting negative effects, allergic reactions, disabilities, and even fatalities following vaccination. As a result, questions arise: do vaccines indeed have side effects, and could they be dangerous?
To understand the workings of vaccines, let's explore the immune system. Comprising billions of cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and B-cells, our immune system is a formidable defense against invading pathogens. Daily, the immune system battles these intruders, and in more serious attacks, antibodies are dispatched to counter the pathogens. However, antibodies may take time to act, while pathogens replicate rapidly, necessitating the immune system to work more vigorously. After triumphing over the pathogen, the immune system generates memory cells that recognize the invader if it strikes again. These memory cells can react swiftly, granting us immunity from the pathogen for life.
In children, who lack sufficient memory cells like adults, falling ill frequently occurs. To provide children with immunity against numerous pathogens through memory cells, vaccinations are administered. Vaccines prove a safer way to create pathogen memories without the risk of becoming sick, recovering, and then gaining immunity. Contracting certain diseases like chickenpox and measles without vaccination can be perilous and fatal. With vaccines, we can deceive our bodies into producing memory cells for pathogens without suffering from the illnesses.
To get the immune system to have memory cells of these pathogens, they can either be done by injecting any of the following types of vaccines; Inactivated vaccines, Live-attenuated vaccines, Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines, Toxoid vaccines, Viral vector vaccines. Depending on the type of vaccine, they can function in different ways. Life-attenuated vaccines are better vaccines than inactive or dead vaccines. They allow the cells to work more as they have to combat the life pathogens which is weak or cannot overpower the immune cells.
While some vaccines grant lifelong immunity, some pathogens constantly mutate, necessitating periodic vaccinations to address new strains. Despite the potential side effects of vaccines, they pale in comparison to the detrimental effects of the diseases they prevent. Not Vaccinating people can be very detrimental as people can suffer diseases from the pathogens and a percentage of them can have more devastating conditions from the disease such as with measles are diarrhea, ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis, and SSPE which affect the neurons in the brain. With vaccines, these diseases can be avoided, and minor side effects can be handled, thanks to our improvement in technology and innovations.
Regrettably, there are myths and controversies surrounding vaccines, such as the unfounded belief that vaccines cause autism. Countless experiments and studies have discredited this claim, confirming that vaccines do not cause autism. Similarly, there is no substantial evidence supporting a high mortality rate due to vaccinations. In reality, vaccines are safe. Admittedly, some individuals may be allergic to certain vaccines, but herd immunity can help address this issue. By ensuring that a large portion of the population is vaccinated, we can safeguard numerous people from falling ill.
Vaccines remain a powerful tool in safeguarding lives through immunization as of currently since we haven't innovated to find new ways to avoid pathogens. Their impact in curbing deadly diseases cannot be overstated, and while there are concerns about potential side effects, their benefits outweigh their risks.
REFERENCE FOR MORE READING
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://autismcenter.org
https://www.mdpi.com
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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