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ABC Medical Center > Digital magazine > The importance of vaccines

The importance of vaccines

20 December 2022

Vaccines teach the body how to defend itself when invaded by bacteria or viruses.

Therefore, vaccines are important because they were developed to generate immunity against some type of disease, allowing the production of antibodies.

What are vaccines and what is their importance?

The vaccine is used for the recipient to receive immunity against a particular microorganism, which stimulates the defense mechanisms in the body and thus produces antibodies against a particular disease.

In this way, if the person is attacked by this type of microorganism, the body will already be prepared to fight it.

If you have wondered why it is important to get vaccinated, you should know that there are currently four types of vaccines. We tell you how it works.

  • Biosynthetic vaccine. Contains artificial substances similar to fragments of the virus or bacteria. Vaccines such as hepatitis B are an example of this.
  • Live virus vaccines. A weakened form of the virus is used to fight measles, mumps, rubella, or chickenpox.
  • Dead vaccines. Some proteins or small fragments of the virus or bacteria are used, an example of this is the whooping cough vaccine.
  • Toxoid vaccines. Made with a toxin or chemical produced by the bacteria or virus; thanks to its characteristics, the recipient becomes immune to the harmful effects of the infection and not directly to the infection itself. Diphtheria or tetanus vaccine are examples of this.

This teaches us the great importance of vaccines in our daily health.

Why are vaccines important?

Thanks to the use of vaccines, many diseases that were considered common and that caused serious or life-threatening effects for people have now become rare or infrequent diseases.

It is estimated that each year between two and three million people have been saved thanks to the use of vaccines. And during the growth stage of children, they will help protect them against diseases that could cause serious damage or even death; especially in people who have a weak or developing immune system.

Among the most common vaccines that you can find are:

  • Mumps vaccine.
  • Rubella vaccine.
  • Measles vaccine.
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine.
  • Hepatitis B vaccine.
  • Pneumococcal vaccine.
  • Rotavirus vaccine.
  • Tuberculosis vaccine.
  • Human papillomavirus vaccine.

Do not put aside the importance of vaccines and come to the ABC Medical Center’s Preventive Medicine area where we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!

Fuente:
https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/002024.htm
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/es/salud/lo-que-debes-saber-sobre-vacunas-infantiles
https://www.hhs.gov/es/immunization/basics/types/index.html

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    Ricardo Ostos

    Ricardo Ostos

    Content Creator

    Ricardo can convey complex medical information in an accessible and friendly way so that all of our patients can understand and benefit from it. In addition, he has an empathetic approach, offering information and practical advice that really makes a difference in people's lives. #lifebringsustogether.

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