Reviewing the Pillars of Immunization: Essential Vaccines and Their Public Health Benefits.

Abstract

Vaccination has lowered, across the globe, morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. It is considered one of the basic principles of preventive health measures. The World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization defined vaccinations that are required and their tremendous benefits to public health, which are discussed in this review article. These involve the vaccinations taken against most communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, polio, measles, rubella, pneumococcal diseases, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, tuberculosis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. The article points out that quite a number of vaccinations have been proven effective and safe and if administered, could prevent serious disease, disability, and death. For example, vaccination against measles has been rated to be vital in the containment of outbreaks within nonimmune populations, while the DTP vaccine is paramount in decreasing the cases of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria. The effect of vaccination can be exemplified by the dramatic decrease in the occurrence of serious bacterial contagion in children since the introduction of conjugate vaccines against Hib and pneumococcus. Notwithstanding these successes, there are persistent obstacles, such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and inequities in access to vaccines, all heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article discusses the global impact of vaccination efforts under siege and appeals for further public health efforts toward the attainment of these goals.