Immunization is something which has really come to the public attention in recent times. There has always been a certain amount of debate about whether or not vaccines are necessary or even helpful. With the recent outbreaks, the debate has become even more visible. The history of immunization is an interesting one and it can be a good thing to know.
There are a number of different illnesses which have the capacity to cause serious illness or even death. These include measles, mumps, smallpox, polio, tetanus and diphtheria. There are also new diseases which are being vaccinated for. These include human papilloma virus, chicken pox and influenza. The fact is that many people have had these vaccines administered to them and have had few if any health complications.
In the beginning, diseases like smallpox were devastating. In addition to deaths from the disease itself, they also had long lasting health problems. Smallpox would often cause hideous scarring and long term suffering. Polio caused muscle wasting and left its victims paralyzed, often severely. Even chicken pox has been known to cause shingles, a debilitating and painful infection of the nerve endings.
The first research into vaccines was conducted in the late 1700's. An English scientist named Edward Jenner discovered that by injecting a patient with bacteria from cowpox sores that the individual was more protected against smallpox. This was the first vaccine that was created and it was credited with saving countless lives. Later vaccines were developed by scientist Louis Pasteur. The most famous of his vaccines was that for rabies. This was a disease which could spread from animals to humans and caused pain, suffering and ultimately, death.
All vaccines use the same principle to protect people and animals against disease. The immune system has to recognize a virus or bacteria as a threat and know how to fight it before the illness becomes too severe. Vaccination uses dead or inactivated viruses to teach the body how to fight off infection. Because it is dead or inactive, it will not cause infection as the body's immunity builds. This is important to remember. There has been a lot of criticism of vaccines such as the flu shot. Many people feel that they tend to come down with the flu as a result of being vaccinated.
So much importance is placed on vaccines that a child must often be vaccinated to attend school. This has upset many proponents of natural health practices. They feel that vaccines can be dangerous and there is some belief that vaccinations can lead to the development of autism in certain individuals. There is also a concern that thiomersal, an agent added to some vaccines, is a form of mercury. Critics argue that no good can come of injecting our bodies with heavy metals.
The fact is that while we do not see some of the illnesses that we are vaccinated for, they do exist. Measles and mumps are still quite common in some areas of the world. Polio is becoming more common and tetanus is something that can affect anyone no matter where they live. The concern is that if we stop vaccinating, there may be a widespread epidemic of many of these diseases.
There are many arguments for and against immunization. As with anything else that we are putting in our bodies, it is important to make a decision that you can feel comfortable with. Speaking with doctors and getting medical advice that you can trust is something that you have to do before you simply decide not to vaccinate yourself or your child.
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