Immunoprophyllaxis: Action for prevention of diseases

Our surroundings are being tainted to the maximum day by day and humans are at the threat of contracting different type of infectious diseases, with no difference of being an adult or a child.

One of the most effective methods to control infectious diseases is to provide immunization. Certain diseases are called ‘vaccine preventable diseases’ (VPD). They are nothing but, those diseases that can be prevented by vaccine administration.

Diphtheria, pertussis, measles, tetanus, mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis are VPD’s. The greatest glory of immunization has been the eradication of smallpox globally.

Immunoprophyllaxis can be in 2 forms. One is the routine immunization, which is a part of basic health care. The second is the process of immunizing individuals or selected people who are exposed to the risk of specific infections.

Depending upon the prevalence of different infectious diseases, the routine immunization has been modified from time to time. These modifications also consider the availability of suitable vaccines, cost benefit factors and public health care importance of these vaccines.

Most VPD’s in India had been provided protection by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) AND Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The National Immunization programme gives tabulated information on what vaccines to be given at what all intervals. The UIP and EPI have enabled to regulate mortality rates of children and infants in India.

Hepatitis B vaccine, MMR vaccine, Varicella vaccine, Typhoid vaccine, etc comes under individual immunization. Here the vaccines are provided only on the initiative from individual side.

Hepatitis B infection can be acquired through perinatal transmission or be transmitted during adolescence through unprotected sexual contact, contaminated needles or through improper blood transfusion. Not only the mortality it causes, but also the creation of chronic carriers is also an alarming situation. Since the cost of this vaccine is comparatively higher, the administration becomes difficult to economically weaker sections of the society. For children, a quarter to half of the adult dose alone may be sufficient. Voluntary agencies which can provide immunization to children and adults can be really helpful. But in the recent days, since the cost has been reduced, mass vaccination has become easier.

To provide protection against Rubella, Mumps and Measles, a dose of MMR vaccine at 16-24 months may be a good choice. In developing countries, only measles vaccine is being given at 9 months.

The live, attenuated vaccine of Varicella for children of 9 months to 12 years of age claims to provide protection against chicken pox. Even though it comes in a mild way in children, in adults, it may prove to be grave. This Varicella vaccine is used for prevention against Varicella and Herpes zoster.

The original typhoid vaccine is not been used widely because of the adverse reactions and the benefits being uncertain. Two recent typhoid vaccines have been reported to have no adverse reactions and also they provide protection for a longer period of time. The live oral Gal-E mutant vaccine and the purified Vi- polysaccharide vaccine which can be injected are the two of its kind.

Immunization, especially in these days, when the advancement of science and medicine has gone really far, the microorganisms and the causative pathogens of many diseases also have become more resistant to antibiotics and other therapeutic methods. Under this context, immunization should be done at the right time for children and adults, so that many life threatening diseases can be kept away from the lives of humans.

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