Lesson 2: Immunization as part of personal health and well-being plans
Lesson 2: Immunization as part of personal health and well-being plans
Learning Objective 1: Understand the purpose of vaccination and how it can help health and well-being
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What is a vaccine?
•A vaccine is a tool that works alongside our body’s natural defense system, which is our immune system, to develop protection against diseases without acquiring the risks that come from getting the diseases.
How does vaccination work?
•Vaccination works by exposing our bodies to parts of bacteria or viruses called antigens.
•Our bodies are exposed to these antigens in a safe way so that our immune system can develop an immune response.
•If we are exposed to that same bacterium or virus later on, our immune system will have the ability to respond more quickly to prevent us from:
•Getting the disease
•Getting very sick if we do get the disease
•Vaccines are normally given by an injection (with a needle) into the upper arm.
•There are some vaccines that can be given orally (by the mouth) and there is even an influenza (flu) vaccine that can be sprayed into the nose.
•Certain vaccines will provide life-long protection and others may require a booster dose or an annual dose (such as for the flu) to ensure continued protection.
•There are some vaccines that provide protection against only one virus or bacterium and there are combination vaccines that protect against several at the same time.
How does vaccination help lead a healthier and better quality of life?
Vaccination is considered one of the most important public health tools available. Over the past 50 years, vaccination has saved an estimated 154 millions lives globally. Vaccines help keep us healthy by preventing potentially deadly diseases.
Staying up to date and getting our vaccines helps protect those who are immunocompromised or are unable to receive vaccination due to barriers such as access to vaccines.
•For the individual, vaccination prevents:
•Hospitalization and death
•Vulnerability to vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) and other chronic diseases. Research shows that vaccination reduces the risk of heart and stroke problems and negative impacts on cognition.
•For example, the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2021 published an analysis where flu vaccination was linked to an 18% lower chance of death from cardiovascular problems and a 25% lower chance of death from any cause.
•Loss of overall function
•Older adults are at a greater of risk of experiencing more severe symptoms and outcomes from diseases and this is because of a concept known as immunosenescence.
•Immunosenescence is the decreased immune function that comes with the process of ageing
•With decreased immune function, the body is more susceptible to infection, and it becomes more difficult for the immune system to fight off any infectious diseases.
•At-risk adults may also have other underlying medical conditions or are in certain environments that increase their chances of acquiring diseases.
•As older and at-risk adults experience these vulnerabilities and increase their risk of negative impacts from diseases, it is important for them to be vaccinated.
•For all of these reasons, it is therefore important to include vaccination as a part of our health plans.
•In addition to exercise, a nutritious diet, and practicing good hygiene, vaccination is an important part of keeping ourselves healthy.