Immunization: Prevention is Better Than Cure

There’s an old saying that states, “Prevention is Better Than Cure”. The idiom is often attributed to the Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus around 1500. This phrase became associated with the world of health and medicine. As technology advances and medical treatments take on forms that would previously be seen as miraculous, we have reached a stage where life-threatening and deadly illnesses such as the black plague have ceased to exist. And with the end of deadly illnesses came a simple solution: the vaccine.

The story of the vaccine came about during the era of the smallpox epidemic. Around this time, millions of individuals were getting infected and subsequently dying from the epidemic. Then comes along, Dr Edward Jenner, who, after much trial and error, successfully created the world’s first vaccine. In his research, he found that people infected with cowpox were immune to smallpox, and after testing his theory and refining his work, he came up with the first vaccine that was given to 8-year-old James Phipps. When a person gets a vaccine, the immune system responds to the antigen as if it were exposed to the actual germ (it makes antibodies and remembers how to defeat it). Then, if the body gets exposed to the actual germ, the immune system can recognize it right away and quickly fight it off to prevent disease.

Over the years, vaccinations covered a wide range of illnesses that are now seen as preventable, such as polio, smallpox, chickenpox, hepatitis, and much more. Through the process of vaccination, a person becomes immunized, which means that it is very unlikely for a person to catch a disease that they have been vaccinated. Since its inception, it is safe to say that vaccines have helped save the lives of millions and billions of people from a plethora of diseases. But, it was not easy in this present day and age.

Through miseducation and fake news, the fear of vaccines has rapidly increased. So much so that preventable diseases have now seen small resurgences in groups that refuse to be vaccinated. Not only does this put a person at great risk of infection, but it also puts people in their surroundings at risk of infection. The only way to fight against vaccines is through education. Education is a powerful tool that teaches us that prevention is truly better than a cure.

Projects under DC, such as Suvita not all provide daily reminders to individuals regarding their vaccinations, but also provide sufficient resources on the need for vaccines. These reminders and resources not only prepare individuals to learn more about vaccines and their importance, but also allow vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly to have the required vaccinations to be safe.

Remember, the reason why prevention is better than a cure boils down to the fact that you can prevent a lot of damage and repairs by just staying safe. We must keep the future generations informed and safe, and ensure that diseases that have ceased to exist continue to remain nonexistent.