We need injections, particularly in the form of vaccines, to prevent us from getting deadly diseases.
Understanding the Importance of Injections
Injections play a crucial role in healthcare, especially when it comes to preventing infectious diseases. Vaccines, a specific type of injection, are designed to protect individuals from harmful pathogens.
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactive form of a disease-causing agent (like a virus or bacteria) into the body. This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies, which are specialized proteins that can recognize and fight off the real pathogen if it ever enters the body. This provides immunity against the disease.
The Role of Vaccines from Childhood to Adulthood
According to the provided reference, vaccinations are typically administered from birth until around 5 years of age, with another dose at around 10 years of age. These early vaccinations are crucial for building immunity against common childhood diseases. Vaccination isn't just for kids! Adults also need booster shots to maintain immunity or get vaccinated against diseases more common in adulthood.
Benefits of Vaccination
- Disease Prevention: Vaccines are highly effective at preventing infectious diseases, reducing the risk of serious illness, complications, and even death.
- Community Protection (Herd Immunity): When a large percentage of a population is vaccinated, it protects those who cannot be vaccinated (e.g., infants, individuals with certain medical conditions) by reducing the spread of the disease.
- Eradication of Diseases: Vaccines have played a significant role in eradicating or controlling deadly diseases like smallpox and polio.
- Reduced Healthcare Costs: Preventing diseases through vaccination can reduce the burden on healthcare systems and lower overall costs associated with treatment and care.
Types of Vaccines Available
There are various vaccines available which you start taking right from the time that you are born till about 5 years and then at 10 years of age.
Examples of the vaccine are below:
| Vaccine Name | Disease it prevents |
|---|---|
| Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella |
| Polio | Polio |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B |
| Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) | Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis |
