According to World Health Organization (WHO), “A vaccine is any preparation intended to produce immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies”. Vaccines are made up of weakened or killed germs, such as a bacteria or viruses, or of a portion of the germ’s structure and is not capable of causing infection. Immune system is your body’s defense mechanism against germs and microorganisms that invade your body and cause infection. Immune system is made up of proteins, cells, tissues, organs and protects our body against infections by bacteria, viruses and parasites. This protection is called immunity. When vaccine is administered, your body recognizes the weakened or killed germs and produces substances called antibodies which detect the invaders and assist in their elimination. These antibodies are specific to the invaders.
Important vaccines
Vaccines safeguard from many important and potentially dangerous diseases. Following are some of the vaccines you must be aware of.
Flu vaccine
The flu, also termed as influenza, is a viral infection caused by influenza viruses affecting nose, throat and lungs, occurring mostly during fall or winter months. The flu can be mild, and sometimes severe and fatal. In 2009-10, a new virus called 2009 H1N1 virus caused first flu pandemic in 40 years. The best way to prevent the flu is by taking flu vaccines.
Flu vaccine is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk of being infected with the influenza virus and or transmitting to others. Flu vaccine is recommended for the individuals those who are at high risk of influenza complications or have close contacts with individuals at risk. It includes:
- People who are 50yrs or older
- Women expected to be pregnant during cold season
- People already suffering from diseases like asthma or heart problems other than hypertension or problems of the kidney and liver
- Diabetic patients
- People with suppressed immune system
- People with any spinal cord injuries
- People with seizures or any disorders of the nerves and muscles
- Residents of chronic care facility or nursing home
- People who take care of children below 5 years or adults above the age of 50 years
- Care takers of persons with medical condition who are at high risk of complications from influenza.
Yearly flu shots are to be taken before flu season starts or as early as possible during flu season preferably in October or November. Influenza vaccine is not recommended for the infants below the age of 6 months, for individuals who are allergic to eggs or egg products, if the illness is more than “just a cold”, for individuals who developed a severe reaction after taking previous flu vaccine and those people who developed a disorder of the nerves that affect extremities (Guillain Barre Syndrome) within 6 weeks after receiving last flu vaccine.
Pneumococcal vaccine:
Pneumonia is a general term for the infection of the lungs caused by Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. Pneumococcal vaccine is a shot that protects you from the germ Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. The pneumococcal vaccine shot is a deactivated (killed virus) vaccine that offers protection against 23 types of streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
Individuals who are at higher risk of pneumonia and may be in need for the pneumococcal vaccine include:
- People of the age of 65 or older
- Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- People with chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes, had their spleen removed and have weak immune system.
For most of the people, just one shot is required in lifetime. If you are above the age of 65, undergone any organ transplant, have a weak immune system and had the first shot of pneumococcal vaccine five or more years ago, then you may need to go for the second shot. If you are sick or had an allergic reaction during the previous pneumococcal vaccine, then you are not recommended to have pneumococcal vaccine. The vaccine is also not recommended for children under the age of two years.
DPT Vaccine:
DPT vaccine is a single preparation containing the mixture of three vaccines that immunize against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus.
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria bacteria. Pertussis is a contagious disease also called as whooping cough caused by bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria Clostridium tetani and occurs through contamination of deep cut wounds and characterized by muscle spasms.
You may need to have DPT vaccine, if
- You are between the ages of 19-64 and if the last DPT vaccine was more than 10 years ago.
- You are above the age of 65 and had the last DT vaccine 10 years ago, then you are advised to have Tetanus-diphtheria booster dose.
- You have a wound likely to become infected and had your Tetanus shot more than five years ago
- You are in contact with infants, just given birth or if you are likely to become pregnant
Get one dose of DPT, if you do not remember when you had or never finished the dosage. Have a second dose four weeks after the first dose, the third dose after six to twelve months of second dose. If you are between the ages of 19-64 and due for a booster but did not have DPT before or you never received DPT, then you should take it immediately. Have a Tetanus-diphtheria booster dose every 10 years. It is not recommended to have DPT vaccine if you are sick, if you had an allergic reaction during the previous time you had the DPT vaccination, if you are pregnant, and if you had seizures or experienced coma within 7 days of taking previous DPT vaccine.
Meningococcal vaccine:
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the tissue that envelops brain and spinal cord. The most common form is viral meningitis caused by virus that enters the brain through mouth and nose. You are advised to have meningococcal vaccine if you did not have the vaccines as a child, if you are living in a dormitory for the first time, if you are travelling to a place where meningitis is prevalent or live in a community where there is a risk of outbreak of meningitis. There is no specific schedule for it, you may get one dose of meningococcal vaccine at any time. Meningococcal vaccine is not recommended if you are sick or if you had developed a disorder of the nerves that affect extremities (Guillain-Barré Syndrome ) subsequent to administration of previous meningococcal vaccine.
Chickenpox vaccine:
Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by a virus namely Varicella zoster and manifested all over the body as red, rash of spots which look like blisters. You may need to have chickenpox vaccine if you never had chickenpox in the past, or do not remember whether you had chickenpox earlier and planning for pregnancy and not aware whether you are immune to chickenpox.
In children the first dose should be given when the child is 12-15 months old. When the children are 4-6 years, they should receive the second dose. Second dose can be given before the age of 4 provided there is a gap of 3 months from the time of giving the first dose. Individuals above the age of 13yrs who have not received any dose before, should take two doses 4 to 8 weeks apart. Those who received the first dose in the past, should have the second dose. You should not have chickenpox vaccine if you have weak immune system, if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant with in four weeks of having the vaccine, children allergic to neomycin medication or gelatin and children receiving medications containing aspirin or any of its derivatives.
Vaccinations – Way to move forward
Vaccination improves the health of the people at a very reduced cost and is safe way of preventing diseases. In the last half a century, vaccination changed the lives of the people in both poor and rich countries by eradicating smallpox and reducing the load of common diseases such as polio, typhoid and measles. Countries with weak health systems have benefitted from these vaccination programs as it requires little training, equipment, skilled diagnosis, long-term medications and prolonged medical care. In the days to come, prevention will be a significant aspect of managing healthcare all over the globe.
