The vaccine is considered one of the greatest medical interventions ever created for the preservation of humanity.
Vaccines have completely eradicated polio in almost every corner of the world while drastically reducing the occurrence of other dreaded diseases.
Recently however, the number of measles cases has risen in Malaysia and needlessly so, due to anti-vaccine movements that have perpetrated the false belief that vaccines are dangerous.
While there are many resources accessible to the public that do a great job in countering common misconceptions, this article strives to tackle the issue by focussing on the many diseases that vaccines can prevent.
Tuberculosis (TB): This disease is caused by a bacteria that commonly affects the lungs. In many parts of the world, it is endemic and there are already cases of superbug versions that do not respond to antibiotics.
BCG vaccinations are up to 80% effective in preventing infections of the brain by TB. In the lungs, it will cause symptoms such as bloody coughs, breathlessness and weight loss.
Credit: https://radiopaedia.org/cases/tuberculosis-left-upper-lobe-1
Polio: Short for poliomyelitis, this disease can infect a person’s brain and spinal cord. The most devastating outcome caused by poliovirus is paralysis. The disease becomes fatal when the muscles that help a person breathe are affected.
The eradication of polio everywhere except in three countries, is a testament to the success of vaccination programmes. This image of a man on iron lungs shows the hardship polio survivors bear just in order to take a breath.
Credit: https://gizmodo.com/the-last-of-the-iron-lungs-1819079169
Haemophilus Inluenzae B (Hib): This disease spreads through the air. Hib makes it hard for a patient to breathe as it can cause swelling of the throat and pneumonia, and can be especially serious for children under five years old.
Tetanus: This is an infection by the bacteria Clostridium Tetani which affects the nervous system. It is serious as it can cause breathing difficulties and severe muscle spasms.
Tetanus is also known as lockjaw as it can make it difficult for someone to open their mouth or swallow. Tetanus is transmitted via the environment when one comes into contact with soil and dirt.
Pertussis: This disease is more commonly known as whooping cough and is caused by the highly contagious Bordetella Pertussis. The whooping cough is so named because those infected with it, will have violent bouts of coughing, causing them to take deep breaths in order to cope. The infection can be deadly for infants.
Mumps: This is a contagious viral infection that causes painful swelling of the parotid gland. The parotid glands sit on both sides of the mouth and in front of the ears. Thankfully, it is not usually as serious as the other diseases mentioned earlier. Observing basic hygiene in addition to being vaccinated goes a long way in preventing the spread of this virus.
Credit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/
Rubella: Also known as German measles, Rubella is thankfully a milder type of viral infection. Typical symptoms include fever, sore throat and a rash across the body.
Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts: Both conditions occur due to infection by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Most women don’t suffer any consequences from HPV and new vaccines work against HPV type 16 and 18 which cause about 70% of cervical cancers.
Measles: Measles outbreaks have become more common recently due to the increasing number of people refusing vaccinations for their children.
Even with a vaccine that has been proven to be safe and effective, measles is one of the leading causes of death globally. Severe complications from measles include blindness and meningitis.
Credit: http://www.regionalderm.com/Regional_Derm/files/measles.html
Hepatitis B: This virus affects the liver. In the long run, Hepatitis B can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. One of the symptoms of hepatitis is jaundice, a condition in which the skin turns yellow.
Credit: https://healthservehhc.co/newborn-jaundice/
People must understand that vaccines are worth the trouble as they have the ability to prevent a range of diseases that could cause unnecessary deaths and suffering.
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