Written By: Prerna Mittra | Published : September 18, 2024 3:09 PM IST
Medically Verified By: Dr Anita Mathew, director of internal medicine and consultant-infectious diseases at Fortis Hospital, Mulund
Vaccines for pneumococcal and Covid infections can protect against conditions like meningitis, pneumonia and other complications. (Photo: Freepik)
Vaccination continues to be a pressing subject around the world, with health bodies and governments urging people to prioritise it. Various inoculation programmes can help prevent and contain the spread of dangerous diseases, as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. For people who are in vulnerable groups, vaccines become all the more urgent and important. Dr Anita Mathew, director of internal medicine and consultant-infectious diseases at Fortis Hospital, Mulund says immunisation is the 'end goal' of vaccination.
"It is the process by which a body, after being vaccinated against a disease, develops antibodies to help fight future illness. Many global health bodies consider it to be a basic human right and a key to primary healthcare," she says, adding that immunisation forms the bedrock of the fight against the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases. "It becomes all the more vital when a person suffers from chronic illnesses as it reduces the body's ability to fight disease-causing pathogens."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases progress over time; they are non-communicable. Examples include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, asthma, etc.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, people with chronic conditions bore a heavy brunt, since their bodies were less prepared to fight the virus. Conditions like lupus, for instance, can take a toll on the immune system. Even minor infections can lead to severe complications.
Dr Anita states that vaccinating against deadly diseases like tetanus, measles, diphtheria, influenza, cervical cancer, etc., can give the body a chance to fight off diseases. "Many chronic conditions are treated with immunosuppressants like corticosteroids, making it harder for the immune system to combat possible infections. For individuals with heart disease or asthma, even regular influenza can become a serious health issue. Vaccination, therefore, is the only way to prevent adverse reactions," the doctor insists.
Here are some key points to know:
