Currently, vaccines represent one of the most effective measures to prevent many diseases. Over time, they have facilitated the control of epidemics and the eradication of serious diseases with a high risk of mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines save many lives every year.
Currently, they cover a wide spectrum of communicable diseases of viral or bacterial origin. Similarly, they prevent the development of serious complications such as cervical cancer in women. For example, vaccination can prevent poliomyelitis, an acute viral disease caused by poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3. According to Dr Luminița Roșu, it can cause meningitis, paralysis and even death by suffocation. Tetanus, on the other hand, is an acute condition caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which causes painful stiffness of the muscles of the body and face and can quickly lead to death. “In turn, diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by some toxic strains of a bacterium, and influenza is a common viral disease caused by influenza viruses A and B. Hepatitis A is a viral condition caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), common in children, while hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Also, rubella is a common disease in children and is caused by another aggressive virus, and measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus (morbillivirus), which produces fever, cough, conjunctivitis, mucus and small spots all over the body”, said the doctor.
Regarding chicken pox, this is a skin rash that occurs in children, being caused by the varicella-zoster virus, and mumps is a common viral disease in children between 5 and 14 years of age. Also, Haemophilus influenzae type b infection is a pathogen capable of producing pneumonia, meningitis, epiglottitis, cellulitis and joint infections. Unfortunately, it has a high mortality rate in unvaccinated children under five. The good part is that all these diseases can be eradicated with the help of vaccination. Whooping cough, a respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is currently on the list of diseases for which there is a vaccine. Last but not least, pneumococcal disease has a high prevalence worldwide. This pathogen is capable of producing otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, meningitis and even sepsis and bacteremia. Therefore, young children are most exposed. The same happens with rotavirus infection, which has a high incidence. This is the cause of watery diarrhea and vomiting in young children. In addition, this virus is capable of causing severe dehydration and is responsible for a large number of hospitalizations.
