Vaccination is a medical process in which a person is given a vaccine to help their immune system develop protection against a specific disease. Vaccines contain weakened or inactivated parts of a virus or bacteria (or instructions for making them), which trigger the body’s immune response without causing illness. This helps the body recognize and fight the real infection if it is encountered in the future.
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases and has helped control or eliminate many serious illnesses, such as polio, measles, and smallpox.
Vaccination helps prevent many infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. Some of the most common illnesses that require or benefit from vaccination include:
1. Viral Diseases:
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR vaccine) – Highly contagious diseases that can cause serious complications.
• Influenza (Flu vaccine) – Helps prevent severe cases of seasonal flu.
• COVID-19 – Protects against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Hepatitis A & B – Prevents liver infections caused by hepatitis viruses.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV vaccine) – Prevents cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
• Polio – Affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
• Rabies – Given after an animal bite or for high-risk exposure.
• Chickenpox (Varicella vaccine) – Prevents varicella-zoster virus infection.
• Shingles (Herpes Zoster vaccine) – Recommended for older adults to prevent painful shingles outbreaks.
• Rotavirus – A major cause of severe diarrhea in infants.
2. Bacterial Diseases:
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap vaccine) – Protects against three life-threatening bacterial infections.
• Pneumococcal Disease (Pneumococcal vaccine) – Prevents pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
• Meningococcal Disease (Meningococcal vaccine) – Protects against meningitis and bloodstream infections.
• Tuberculosis (BCG vaccine) – Used in some countries to protect against TB.
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib vaccine) – Prevents serious infections in young children, like meningitis and pneumonia.
Vaccines are important for people of all ages, especially infants, children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
