April 24th to 30th marks this year’s World Immunization Week with the aim of highlighting the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Under the banner of ‘The Big Catch-Up’, WHO is working with partners to support countries to get back on track to ensure more people are protected from preventable diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) works with numerous national and international organizations to defend communities against diseases that can be avoided and to spread awareness about World Immunization Week.
The focus of WIW 2023 activities this year will be on raising awareness of the value of vaccinations and immunizations so that governments can begin effective immunization programs that can provide vital information and technical support.
Vaccines contain tiny amounts of weak or dead bacteria, viruses, or fragments of those organisms are present in vaccines, stimulating the body’s immune system to develop an immunological response without spreading the disease.
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It is important for individuals of all ages, from infants to elders to get vaccination.
Children, who are more susceptible to infections, as well as people with compromised immune systems, such as those suffering from chronic illnesses benefit the most from vaccinations.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), chickenpox, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), pneumococcal disease, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) are among the vaccines that are frequently advised for children.
Adults may receive vaccinations against the flu, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), as well as against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Although minor side effects like discomfort at the injection site, fever, or muscular aches may happen, vaccination is mostly safe and effective.
