Scientists have worked rigorously hard over the last 40 years to develop new vaccines. This effort continues to pay benefit to people’s health through preventing an epidemic outbreak of serious infectious diseases, thereby saving the lives of many. Through scientific discovery, they have made it possible to discover a range of live and non-live vaccines, which have proved to be a cost-effective means of preventing serious infectious diseases across the globe. These vaccines include the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), anti-tuberculosis vaccine and some virus-related vaccines such as influenza, hepatitis and yellow fever. The efforts of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) is evident through their wide-spread promotion of vaccinations across Europe through various campaigns (ECDC; 2012). This is an example of prevention.
Across the globe, the use of preventative measures has been at the heart of primary prevention especially the epidemiological control of infectious diseases, health and safety, as well as in other affairs of life, even in the financial sector. We are all familiar with the adage: “prevention is better than the cure” (The Lancet,1897; Cheung, F.,2013). This is certainly true of many things.
In the health sector, prevention refers to the actions that inhibit the manifestation of diseases. This may also include actions to improve outcomes. Prevention is the primary shield that saves mankind from many disasters, chaos and destruction. Through prevention, the associated discomfort and cost that accompanies ill health, is averted. It is much easier to prevent the onset of ill health than cure it.
A WHO publication confirmed that vaccinations play an active role in the reduction of disease, disability, death and iniquity worldwide (Andre F.E. et al., 2008). The benefits of vaccinations are imperative in lessening the burdens associated with infectious diseases. However, the safety of vaccines has raised contention in the public domain by drawing mass attention to their risks rather than their effectiveness. Evidence has shown that vaccines are far safer than therapeutic medicines. It also appears that vaccine safety issues are more commonly reported than the benefits, although one cannot underestimate the risks of any drug-related error. Ample evidence has shown that comprehensive vaccination programmes are a cornerstone (ECDC; 2012), but it is important that we embark on timely global access to key life-saving immunisations, especially in the developing nations, where a significant proportion of the rural population are deprived of such benefits. There is a need to educate people, on an individual level, worldwide, on the benefits and risks of vaccinations.
Healthy living and lifestyles have gained much publicity in the last 20 years. Activities such as Getting exercise, avoid smoking, avoid alcohol, good nutrition and avoiding junk food, manage your stress and others. The benefits are enormous such as good health and prevention of risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. There is currently no cure for these conditions, and which are managed with drugs and other treatment. These diseases are very costly to treat and if they develop can result to long term disability. People with long-term conditions now account for about 64 per cent of all outpatient appointments and over 70 per cent of all inpatient bed days.
Let us rise up and self-manage and prevent these risk factors so as to reduce the economic impact and quality of life of our communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
