World Immunization Week: April 24-30
We recognize the life-saving effect of vaccines to protect people of all ages against deadly and debilitating diseases.
5 minute read
April 24 – 30, 2022 is World Immunization Week.
To goal of this week is to bring awareness and promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against deadly and debilitating diseases.
Immunization of all types saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful health interventions.
Immunization is the process by which someone is protected against disease through vaccination. These terms are often used interchangeably, but immunization refers to the process, whereas vaccination refers to the administration. Immunization is the way to safely provide protection against many infectious diseases we encounter, by tricking our immune system with a harmless piece, or antigen, of the infectious microorganism. These can be pieces of proteins, sugars, RNA, or other components, that are unique enough that our immune system recognizes the vaccine as a foreign invader and generates immunity.
Vaccination has evolved over hundreds, if not thousands, of years to the science and technology we use today. From rudimentary variolation to the era of mRNA vaccines, immunization has been saving lives.
While, the first “vaccination” is attributed to Edward Jenner for smallpox, there are documented instances of rudimentary vaccination, called variolation, starting in 1000 CE.
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