Benefits of Vaccination

Abstract

Vaccines in routine use around the world have been shown to be clinically well-tolerated and in double-blind randomized prospective controlled field trials – to be efficacious. Furthermore, they have been proven to be effective in routine vaccination programmes worldwide. They have had an excellent safety profile. Vaccinated individuals will face a greatly reduced danger of contracting the targeted disease with a minimal risk of serious side-effects. Should the vaccine fail to give complete protection, the severity of the "breakthrough" disease and its accompanying complications will, in most cases, be less than among the unvaccinated. Mortality, if a possible outcome, will also be greatly reduced. Mass vaccination of children in developed nations have brought many vaccine-preventable diseases under control or even eliminated them. Vaccines have made erstwhile lethal infectious diseases so rare that they have become "victims of their own success" to the point that uninformed people query the necessity of continuing to use them. Unless a disease is eradicated on a global scale – as has been achieved for smallpox and will soon be for poliomyelitis – vaccination cannot cease since the pathogen will quickly reappear and spread with dire consequences. Elimination of disease has many socio-economic, educational, and geo-political advantages. Healthy children grow to become well-educated and productive citizens that live longer. Increased life-expectancy brings prosperity and wealth buys health. Reduced infant mortality will put a brake on population growth in less developed countries and ease pressure on land and food – a determinant of belligerence. Vaccines are a powerful tool to foster equity and peace in the world.