Awareness drive to shed light on power of vaccines stronger
As every government is duty-bound to guarantee public health and safety amidst inequalities and despite some unthinkable rejections, awareness programmes to educate populations regarding vaccines and timely vaccinations must never wane.
“Through collective efforts (by) all countries, vaccination for all can be implemented. In-depth research is required before vaccines are recommended to make sure that these work and are safe. This ensures the protection of everyone, everywhere,” said Prime Medical Center (Barsha Heights, Dubai) general practitioner Dr. Maria Clarissa Sagun.
Sagun’s extremely positive outlook on vaccines as preventive measures against diseases, was equally shared by Al Zahra Hospital (Dubai) Pulmonology consultant Dr. Mohammad Fawzi Katranji, Aster Clinic (AJMC, Bur Dubai) Internal Medicine specialist Dr. Nasrullah Jakhrani, Burjeel Day Surgery Centre (Reem Island, Abu Dhabi) medical director/internal Medicine consultant Dr. Fadi Baladi and colleague Family Medicine general practitioner Dr. Saira Haider, Aster Clinic (Abu Shagara, Sharjah) Dr. Biji Bob Thomas,
The aim of vaccination is to obtain the immunity without the risks of having the disease particularly among the vulnerable
and Burjeel Hospital (Dubai) Clinical Pathology specialist Dr. Gunjan Mahajan.
They suggested ways by which the “Long Life for All” theme of the April 24 to 30 “World Immunization Week” could be carried out.
Thomas and Haider commented as well on the altered 10-year research-and development (R&D) requirement for vaccines as a result of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Haider said: “The advent of (revolutionary) MRNA vaccines (that allow body cells to produce a protein for immunity) paved the way for using this technology against other diseases as well. For 25 years, university laboratories have been working on the use of MRNA, (the efficacy of which) was shown through the COVID19.”
Thomas, hopeful that “more potent” vaccines shall be manufactured, said: “Unprecedented financial investments and scientific collaborations changed how vaccines are developed. Some of the steps in the R&D process have been happening in parallel, and not compromised or hastened while still maintaining strict clinical and safety standards.”
He also said: “Vaccines are as important to overall health as diet and exercise. (These) are considered an important aspect of public health. We oten develop lifelong immunity when we have had a disease. However, some of these diseases may lead to serious complications and sometimes death. The aim of vaccination is to obtain this immunity without the risks of having the disease particularly among the vulnerable.”
Mahajan implied the concept of herd immunity, utered numerous times since the SARS-COV2 invasion of the world from 2020: “(The virus) has disrupted routine immunisation services around the world and threatening gains made in the control of vaccine preventable diseases. Timely vaccination is key to protect the young and old from life-threatening infectious diseases. It prevents outbreaks and it avoids the accumulation of un-vaccinated groups and potential loss of community immunity. The vaccination status of every patient must be assessed (at every doctor’s visit so as to lessen) the missed opportunities for vaccination. Simultaneous administration of several vaccines in one visit must be encouraged whenever possible.”
On the awareness programmes, governmentspearheaded educational campaigns primarily done through the media and supported by seminars and which stress on the advantages of routine immunisation adhered to from infancy is the answer, according to Jakhrani and Mahajan.
Mahajan also said: “Reminder and recall systems should be implemented to identify patients who are due for or who have missed vaccine doses by using patient electronic health records or immunisation records.”
Katranji believes the best way for everyone to be administered with the right or correct immunization is by the constant “studying and monitoring infections around the world. Governments must make sure that all have access to good healthcare.”
He defined good healthcare as the the provision of a “reliable source of intervention that people can reference regarding viruses and diseases and how they can prevent these.”