Experts emphasize that vaccination has an important role in ensuring that many diseases that used to be very common and even caused epidemics have lost their prevalence today, and point out that vaccination protects not only today's children but also future generations. Failure to vaccinate can lead to the return of diseases that have almost disappeared today and to an increase in outbreaks of diseases that are under control. "Vaccination is cheaper than treatment and saves time," experts warn.
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The World Health Organization commemorates the last week of April, between April 24-30, as World Vaccination Week. Within the scope of Vaccination Week, activities are organized at the central and provincial level in order to increase the sensitivity of healthcare personnel, to raise awareness and inform the society about vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases, to complete the vaccinations of under-vaccinated children under the age of 5 and to increase the demand for vaccination in adults.
Dr. Lecturer from Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Prof. Dr. Mesut Karahan from Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences pointed out the importance of the vaccine, which provides immunity against a specific disease or increases the level of immunity.
Vaccine prevents the emergence of the disease!
Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mesut Karahan said, "Vaccine; It is a general name given to biologically prepared substances that provide immunity or increase the level of immunity against a specific disease. Vaccination prevents the emergence of the disease and the symptoms of diseases."
The history of vaccination dates back centuries
Prof. Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mesut Karahan stated that the history of vaccination applied to protect people from diseases dates back to ancient times and gave the following information:
"In 430 BC, the Greek historian Thucydides stated that those who survived the plague once did not get sick again. This statement is the first record found about immunity. In the 7th century, some Buddhist monks tried to develop immunity to snake bites by drinking snake venom. The first recorded deliberate attempts at immunization were made by the Chinese and Turks in the 15th century. It is known that the first vaccination in history was administered in 590 BC during the Sung Dynasty in China, when an inflamed substance from the skin was injected into the nose of healthy people to prevent smallpox. This primitive vaccination method is called Variolation. In 1721, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the wife of the British Consul, who witnessed the application of the Variolation method in the Ottoman baths, ensured that this method was announced to the western countries with the letters she wrote to her country. In the letter, she wrote that "something called "vaccine" (varillation method) was made against smallpox in Istanbul". This letter is the oldest document on vaccination. Systematic vaccination against smallpox was first initiated by the British surgeon Edward Jenner in 1796. Jenner is recognized as the founder of vaccination. The second important development in vaccination, which took place about 100 years after Jenner, was Pasteur's discovery of the rabies vaccine, a major step in human immunization."
Epidemics were eliminated thanks to vaccines
Prof. Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mesut Karahan emphasized that the vaccine has an important role in ensuring that many diseases that used to be very common and even caused epidemics have lost their prevalence today.
There is no scientific basis for vaccine refusal
Stating that in recent days, it has been discussed in the public opinion that parents have reservations about the vaccination of children, Karahan said, "According to the news in the press, it is seen that the number of families who refused vaccination in 2017 reached 23 thousand. According to the Constitutional Court's "Halime Sare Aysal Decision on Compulsory Vaccination" dated December 24, 2015, parents have the right not to vaccinate or refuse to vaccinate their children. It is seen that families have their own reasons for refusing to vaccinate their children. We see that these reasons do not have a sound scientific basis."
Vaccination is cheaper than treatment
Stating that vaccination is a very effective method in preventing diseases, Karahan said, "It should not be forgotten that vaccination is cheaper than treatment and saves time. It should not be ignored that it will reduce the cost of general health services in terms of the country's economy."
Stating that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has identified some points that families should pay attention to when deciding on the vaccination of their children, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mesut Karahan listed them as follows:
"-Parents should know that vaccination is the most effective way to ensure that their children are healthy and protected from unprotected diseases.
-Vaccination protects children from serious preventable diseases and their complications, which can include arm or leg amputation, limb paralysis, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage and death.
Vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough still pose a threat and cause poor outcomes.
-It should be remembered that many diseases that are no longer seen in our country can easily be introduced to our country through tourists from other countries (refugees in our country).
-Outbreaks of preventable diseases can occur when many parents decide not to vaccinate their children."
Outbreaks may increase without vaccination
"Let's not forget that with vaccination, we save not only the current generation, but also our grandchildren and even their grandchildren from the disease that is vaccinated against," Karahan warned, adding, "Failure to vaccinate means the return of diseases that have almost disappeared today and the increase in outbreaks of diseases that are under control. Families who refuse vaccination should know that with their decision, they put both their own children and other children at risk."