Understanding what vaccines are helps not only to grasp the reason for their importance, but also to stay mindful of not setting this necessity aside.
The importance of vaccines lies in their ability to help prevent infectious diseases or reduce the severity of symptoms they can cause.
Although most are administered via injection, some are given nasally or orally.
When a vaccine is administered to a person, it teaches the body how to defend itself against microorganisms like viruses or bacteria in the event of exposure. This is why vaccination is considered essential in disease prevention and control.
Over the years, the widespread use of vaccines has protected people from illnesses that were previously more common and dangerous, such as diphtheria, meningitis, mumps, polio, measles, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).
When asking what vaccines are for, facts prove that without proper vaccination, many of these conditions can trigger serious illnesses or lifelong disabilities, and some can even be life-threatening.
How vaccines work varies widely: some are created using killed viruses, others use weakened or modified viruses, and some contain adjuvants that enhance the immune response.
What Vaccines Are For
Worldwide, vaccines save between three and five million lives every year, proving to be a fundamental tool in protecting people and clearly demonstrating their purpose.
Generally, most vaccines are administered shortly after birth, as infants only have short-term natural protection passed from their mother through the placenta.
Vaccination Record
While receiving every single vaccine is not always mandatory, each country maintains a list of recommended immunizations, and certain vaccines are specifically required prior to traveling to high-risk areas.
Among the various vaccination options, the most common include:
- Rabies Vaccine
- BCG Vaccine (against tuberculosis)
- COVID Vaccine
- DTP Vaccine (against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
- Hepatitis A Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Shingles Vaccine (Herpes Zoster)
- Hexavalent Vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and polio)
- Flu (Influenza) Vaccine
- Meningococcal Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Vaccine
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine
- Pentavalent Vaccine (against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B)
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Measles Vaccine
- MR Vaccine (measles and rubella)
- MMR Vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella)
- Td Vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria)
- Tdap Vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis)
- Tetanus Vaccine
- Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine
At the Preventive Medicine Department at Centro Médico ABC, we offer specialized care. Contact us today!
