August is observed as National Immunization Awareness Month, and greater-than-usual attention is given in media to issues of disease prevention and inoculation, especially due to the re-emergence of a number of vaccine-preventable diseases ranging in severity from bubonic plague to flu.
Why Vaccinate?
Vaccines are substances that introduce an antigen, aka toxin, into an individual's immune system in order to develop an adaptive immunity intended to protect not only their health, but that of their entire community from graver sickness. Generally, vaccinations offer significantly greater odds of avoiding death and disability by serious illness.
To avoid dangerous negative impacts on entire communities or large swaths, it's necessary that a certain ratio of inhabitants be immunized against disease. Community immunity protects everyone, but before that's possible, everyone who medically can must be treated. Opting out in large numbers puts the larger community at risk, especially any who are of infirm health already, even temporarily. This risk includes those close to us—friends and family!
Learn more about community immunity.
Due to a relatively small number of complications (allergy, rarely) resisters have ignited a firestorm of controversy around immunization.
More, negative attention to vaccines is heightened in light of additional, unsubstantiated suspicions among subjects regarding links between immunization and autism, when there are none verified; although, it's easy to understand any frustration and fear. Rates of autism are only increasing, despite an increased incidence of declined immunization.
Unfortunately, between religious and personal-belief exemptions, most states allow a significant number of opt-outs: roughly half of states allow "medical and religious" vaccine exemptions.
Adding to the problem, in reference to the map linked above, the other half of states allow "medical and personal belief" exemptions. This latter option would seem to enlarge the pool of those who may opt out of community immunity measures by a consequential landslide, and prompts one to reconsider exemptions of religious privilege–the veracity of which contain the assumptions of any mythology, making the only veritably-reasonable exemption the medical exemption.
Thankfully, personal belief exemptions are being recognized as risky to community health by more people every day and countermeasures are helping to educate many. One avenue of discovery that makes an impact, known as Put Kids First, needs and welcomes vaccine supporters in their efforts to assist the educational and legislative efforts in their home state to support vaccines.
Vaccination/Immunization History
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| Cowpox circa 2000, Finland |
Immunization, or vaccination (previously known as variolation and then vaccination) are general terms for the practice, which has a long history stemming from China and India. "Variolation" [variolae vaccinae = smallpox of the cow] was first used—rather successfully—in England and North America during the 1720s to combat cowpox, a less-severe but zoonotic disease that transferred from cows to humans at milking time.
In contrast, the closely-related smallpox disease was much more than an unsightly, uncomfortable burden. Smallpox often resulted in death and disablement.
Ultimately, after the discovery of a vaccine for smallpox in 1786, the specifically applicable term vaccination [vaccinae] came to be known generically, addressing the action needed to avoid a growing number of diseases. Today, the terms immunization and vaccination are used interchangeably.
Help stop the spread of misinformation about vaccination . . .
So, don't be caught off guard by all the immunization talk happening this month. Various groups, some of which promote vaccination and others which warn against the practice, work to spread their points of view as far as possible, across as many fields of interest as they're able.
RELATED READING
Reemergence of 5 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Common Immunization Questions
Not Up For Debate: The Science Behind Vaccination
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