Immunization is the act of protecting oneself from infections by exposure to those agents that cause that particular infection. A vaccine injected into a person helps him develop resistance to that particular disease.
Immunization helps in effectively preventing various childhood diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, chicken pox, small pox, measles etc.
How immunization works?
In the process of immunization a weakened or dead pathogen of a particular disease is injected into a person’s body. Since the pathogen is either weak or dead it cannot cause the disease. It is further treated to eliminate the possibility of an infection completely. But the body identifies the pathogen as a potential threat of contacting the disease and starts producing antibodies to counter the disease. These
antibodies are not used but stored in the body. If the body ever comes into contact with these pathogens in future the risk of contacting the disease is minimized or ruled out because the body is adequately protected through
Immunization. In short, immunization stimulates the body’s immune system to protect the body against ensuing infections through one time introduction of pathogens.
Types of immunization
There are two types of immunizations – passive and active
- In passive immunization previously prepared antibody is injected into the body. This method is not very effective for long term protection because the antibodies do not get stored in the body. This type of immunization is done if quick results are expected. For e.g. if there has been an outbreak of some epidemic passive immunization will help
- In active immunization weakened or dead antigen is injected into the body. It stimulates the production of antibodies which get stored in the body. The body then is adequately armed against future infections. This is a slow and steady process and does not work if instant response is needed
Importance of immunization
- Immunization has succeeded in reducing mortality rate in children. Earlier mortality rate was high because children had no protection against life taking deadly diseases. Immunization has therefore succeeded in keeping deadly diseases at bay
- Children are protected against crippling diseases like polio and they grow up as healthy human beings. Their growth is not stunted
- Reduction in mortality rate has led to the reduction in birth rate. Immunization consequently has had a positive impact on the world population
Advantages of immunization
- Expenditure on health in the family has reduced with people realizing that prevention is better than cure. Therefore people have more money to spend on themselves leading to betterment of their living standards
- Statistics shows that immunization averts atleast 2 million deaths a year
- Immunization is very cost effective and yields positive results
- Target groups for a specific Immunization are previously defined. That makes it is easier to reach out to them
- The process of immunization is simple and cheap. That has made it available even to the most deprived lot of the society. With immunization the government has been able to address their health issues also
- And the best part of Immunization is that you do not have to make any kind of lifestyle changes
