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Immunization, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a process of making an individual immune or resistant to an infectious disease through the administration of vaccines. The work of these vaccines are to stimulate the body’s immune system and protect it against future infection or disease.
Immunization in societies is perceived either positively or negatively by the individuals that reside in it. In Nigeria for example, a widespread distrust as regards western-led vaccination exists in some areas. This is due to a controversy around an American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which was accused of testing an unapproved drug on children during a meningitis outbreak in Kano State in 1996, resulting in scores of deaths and permanent disabilities.
Another major issue concerning vaccination in Western countries is the fact that parents are unable to weigh the advantages and disadvantages, assess alternatives to current vaccine regimens, and risks around vaccination. The unavailability of tangible information leaves the parents fed up and confused, generating a considerable amount of unbelief in the capabilities of the medical profession, the scientific establishment, and the effectiveness of the government on the issue.
The safety of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination has been in the mainstream media in recent years accompanied by numerous claims and counterclaims, thereby provoking anxiety among parents about the need to vaccinate their children. Misinformation can be blamed for this confusion and doctors are having to struggle to reassure parents of the benefits of taking the MMR vaccine.
However, the fact remains that unvaccinated children are at risk of diseases, and present themselves as primary sources of epidemics and pose as a threat to overall public health. The trick around this might be to convince people (especially parents) about their safety, and not the efficacy of vaccines.
Instead of the route of an outright bashing of vaccination and its damage, a more important path to follow is by addressing the negative perception of vaccination and reassuring parents about vaccine safety through mainstream media and social media. An easy way of reassurance and restoring confidence in the medical profession is looking at studies that assess the long-term side-effects of vaccination.
Meanwhile, the onus rests on the government and the public health community to reassure and enlighten the public that the recent regimes are safe, secure and effective. Their takeoff point should be directed at gaining an improved understanding of why a resistance towards science exists, and also exploring the numerous dimensions that influence the parents’ decision making. The media should not be left out too, but the crux of the work rests on the policy makers, medical profession, parents and community leaders.
Moving forward, vaccination as a public health tool of the future still has an exciting way to go. The development of vaccines like the first-generation malaria vaccine, the improvements on the tuberculosis vaccines, and the vaccines against cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus, all appear ready to transform the 21st century public health in a tremendous manner.
Chima Ordu, Admin & Business Development Intern at Redcare HMO
