Vaccines are biological substances obtained by eliminating the harmful effects of bacteria or viruses whose disease-causing ability has been destroyed, or the toxins of bacteria. They prevent the emergence of the disease or prevent the formation of the bad effects of the diseases. Antibodies formed after vaccination remain in the body for a long time and prevent disease by preventing the disease agent from entering the body during encounters.
When it comes to child health, preventive health services have an extremely important place. One of the most important elements of preventive health services is immunization through vaccination.
Prevention of diseases is always more effective and cheaper than treatment. Vaccines are one of the most basic elements in preventing diseases, and some vaccines protect not only vaccinated children but also unvaccinated children.
Vaccination is actually one of the most important inventions of human history in terms of improving public health...initiated by the World Health Organization in 1974. With the Expanded Immunization Programme, the mortality rate in children has decreased significantly. However, it is aimed to increase immunization rates with currently used vaccines and to further reduce child deaths by introducing newly developed vaccines against microorganisms such as pneumococcus and rotavirus, which are two of the important causes of death. However, since newly developed vaccines are expensive, it will take time for these vaccines to be included in the national vaccination calendars. This is a sad reality for underdeveloped and developing countries where vaccines are needed the most.
Vaccines can be classified in two main ways: live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines. Live attenuated vaccines are based on eliminating the disease-causing ability of a virus or bacterium, but preserving its ability to multiply in the body and create immunity (such as measles, rubella, mumps, OPV, chickenpox, BCG vaccines). Inactivated vaccines are prepared by using the whole virus or bacteria (such as pertussis, influenza, hepatitis A, IPV) or some of it (such as hepatitis B, influenza, acellular pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus). Fractionated vaccines are based on either protein or polysaccharide s. For example, toxoid vaccines (such as diphtheria, tetanus) are protein-based fractionated vaccines. Most polysaccharide vaccines contain a pure separated cell wall (pneumococcal, meningococcal). Apart from antigens, vaccines also include suspension liquids, stabilizing and protective substances, and adjuvants that increase immunogenicity.
A part of the immune system also works to protect against infectious diseases. Immunity can be acquired in two ways: active and passive. Active immunity is provided either by exposure to disease or by vaccination. This type of acquired immunity is long-lasting. Passive immunity is achieved by receiving antibodies (immune globulins) from other people or animals. The immunity provided in this way is short-term and varies between a few weeks and a few months, depending on the amount of immune globulin administered. Passage of antibodies from mother to baby via the placenta and administration of blood and blood products (such as whole blood, plasma, erythrocyte and platelet suspensions, immune globulin preparations) are situations that provide passive immunity.
VACCINATION SCHEDULE vaccinations begin with the birth of the baby.
Historically, there have been and continue to be objections to immunization with vaccines in terms of cultural and belief values. What we can accept as an opposing view and consider worthy of discussion are the published forms of data obtained according to the rules of science.
For example, sudden child death syndrome with DTP, MS with hepatitis B vaccine, Autism with MMR vaccine, DM with Hib, Accusations such as mental retardation due to thiomersal, AIDS due to OPV, and overload of the immune system due to combined vaccines, which have not yet been scientifically proven, are quite common today.
Today, an organic substance called thiomersal, similar to ethyl mercury, is used to stabilize some vaccines. This is unlike methylmercury, which is harmful to health. It is metabolized faster by the body and excreted faster. With 6 doses of application, a maximum of 200 micrograms of mercury is taken. This value is well below the WHO limit. Vaccines do not cause asthma as claimed. Some vaccines are said to cause sudden infant death syndrome. Scientifically proven causes of sudden infant death syndrome; put to sleep in prone position, materna l smoking, soft bedding, bottle feeding, low birth weight, and recently it has been observed that these children are generally unvaccinated. When the relationship between the flu vaccine and GBS (Guillain Barre Syndrome - Muscle weakness and temporary paralysis) was questioned, it was seen that 99% of these children were unvaccinated. While the probability of GBS occurring after flu vaccination is 1-2 in 1000,000, it is 10-20 in the society and 40 in those who have had the flu.
In general, every year, with vaccination practices, 3 million children are saved from deaths caused by diseases caused by non-vaccination. . It is the right of children to be vaccinated and this right should not be taken away from them. I also think that it is the responsibility of us physicians to be sensitive about vaccines and preventive medicine.
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