- Vaccination campaigns help prevent between two and three million deaths each year.
- It is estimated that if global coverage is improved then another 1.5 million fatal cases could be prevented.
- Thanks to immunizations, some diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps and measles have been eradicated or are about to be eradicated.
One of the most important contemporary inventions in the world has been immunization. Its relevance can be clearly seen today due to all the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. For the same reason, various doctors and institutions have spoken out to encourage vaccination. Doing so not only protects a person but the entire environment of it.
Who is the inventor of vaccines?
One name that everyone should remember is that of scientist Edward Jenner. It was in 1749 that he laid the foundation for the development of today’s vaccines. For the same reason, he is considered the father of immunization.
Over the years his invention has become more relevant. At present alone, it is estimated that immunizations prevent between two and three million deaths each year. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that if global coverage is improved then another 1.5 million fatal cases could be prevented.
Now, in recent years several diseases have been eradicated or are about to be eradicated thanks to vaccines. In the United States alone, no cases of smallpox or polio were reported in 2020. This is one of the greatest advances achieved in the nation because the annual average during the 20th century was 29,005 and 16,316 cases, respectively.
A similar scenario occurs with the pertussis, diphtheria and mumps because they are diseases that have reached historical minimum numbers throughout the world.
On the other hand, although measles cases stabilized for years, since 2020 there has been a slight increase. In part it has been because the vaccination campaigns were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why it is necessary to return to the path to prevent a setback from occurring.
New way to make a problem visible
Now for encourage vaccination In a different way, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer launched a campaign called “Visible Emergency”. Through a tour of the streets of Mexico City aboard an ambulance with transparent panels, simulating the care of a person with a respiratory condition, the aim was to raise awareness about the importance of immunization. At the same time showing the dangers of not being inoculated.
During 10 hours and 200 kilometers traveled, the ambulance showed more than three million people the entrails of a dangerous situation when a person does not have sufficient protection through vaccines.
For Ángeles Gutiérrez, Medical Leader of Vaccines at Pfizer Mexico, “this campaign is a wake-up call for the general population to raise awareness about the danger of respiratory diseases and that any of us can be in danger if we do not complete our schedule. of vaccination”.
It should be noted that immunization is now a key component of primary health care. In fact, vaccines are now available to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases. In addition, they are essential to prevent between two and three million deaths a year.