Why We Vaccinate

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Here are a few of the diseases that we vaccinate against. These are not harmless. These are serious diseases that we have either eradicated or brought under control, thanks to widespread vaccination. These are the real world results of diseases that modern medical science has been able to control. A lot of us (fortunately) don't see these any more. This is not because of sanitation and diet (although it can help somewhat), this is due to vaccination. Thanks to charity organisations like UNICEF, children all over the world can get access to life-saving vaccination. 
Please note, this blog is based on a New Zealand Immunisation Schedule (except for the Rabies vaccine, which is not scheduled here but is recommended for overseas travel). Vaccination schedules are different around the world, and you should check with your GP or your local government website for which vaccines are recommended for you. 
Poster celebrating the certification of the eradication of smallpox in Somalia, and consequently, in the world, 1979.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Smallpox **ERADICATED**

This is smallpox (variola, caused by Variola major and minor). Spread through direct contact and air. Symptoms start with a fever and vomiting. The characteristic fluid-filled bumps with the dimpled centre then appear, all over the body and in the mouth. The last case was in 1977. Smallpox killed millions of people worldwide before being declared eradicated due to vaccination in 1980.
Because Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide, we don't need to vaccinate for it anymore. There are two vials of the virus left in the world, one each in a Russian and American lab. 

Rinderpest

Rinderpest is another disease that has been eradicated due to vaccination. A ruminant disease that caused oral erosion, fever, diarrhoea, lymphoid necrosis and high mortality. Officially declared eradicated in 2011.

 Rinderpest - Wikipedia

Whooping Cough

This is Whooping Cough (100-day cough or Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis). Spread through the air.
Symptoms similar to the common cold, followed by a severe cough with the characteristic "whoop", which is the patient trying to get air into the lungs. Coughing can last up to 2-3 months, hence 100-day cough. Coughing can be so severe it can result in vomiting, broken ribs or extreme tiredness. Very young children may not have a cough, but instead, long periods of no breathing may occur. Can be treated with antibiotics.

Best prevention is the DTaP vaccine at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months of age. A booster is given at 4 years and 11 years of age. A booster vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women, between 28 and 38 weeks. 

Since a photo can't really describe or get across the seriousness of Whooping Cough, here's a video. WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT!



Measles

This is measles (rubeola, caused by the Measles Virus). Spread through the air or contaminated surfaces. Measles is the most infectious vaccine-preventable disease. Symptoms appear up to 10 days after infection. Fever, runny nose and inflamed eyes present first, followed by white spots (koplik spots) in the mouth, and the red rash on the skin. Complications can present in 30% of cases, including 

  • diarrhea 
  • swelling of the brain 
  • pneumonia 
  • blindness 
  • death
90% of people who are not immune will catch the disease when they come into contact with an infected person. 
  • 1980 - 2.6 million deaths.
  • 1990 - 554,000 deaths.
  • 2014 - 73,000 deaths.
The increased vaccination rates are starting to reduce the number of cases, but outbreaks occur all the time, usually from an individual who is not immune. 


Prevention comes from two doses of the MMR vaccine, given at 15 months and 4 years of age.

Measles - CDC
Measles - Wikipedia
Measles - Ministry of Health
Measles in Pictures


Polio

This is polio (poliomyelitis, caused by the poliovirus). Spread through feces of infected. In a small number of cases, it can result in muscular weakness, and even paralysis, usually in the legs, head or diaphragm. Those with complications will usually die. The iron lung was introduced to help patients breathe, from paralysis of the diaphragm. In 2016, there were only 37 cases, down from 350,000 cases in 1988, due to vaccination. According to the WHO, polio has been eradicated from all but 3 countries; Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. More recently, Venezuela, after 30 years of being polio-free.  Anyone travelling internationally should check with their doctor to see if a polio vaccine booster is recommended.

Prevention comes from the Polio vaccine at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old. A booster is given at 4 years of age.


Diptheria


This is diphtheria (caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae). Spread through the air or direct contact.  Symptoms can include a sore throat, a severe hacking cough, a swollen neck from the lymph nodes and a white/grey patch on the throat. Can also affect the skin, eyes or genitals. Complications can include myocarditis (can cause abnormal heart rate) inflammation of the nerves (can result in paralysis), kidney problems and bleeding due to low platelets. 2,100 deaths as of 2015. The bacteria produce toxins which can lead to nerve paralysis and heart failure.

Diptheria can be prevented with the vaccine given at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months of age and boosters given at 4 and 11 years of age.

Diptheria - CDC
Diptheria - Wikipedia
Diptheria - Ministry of Health
Diptheria in Pictures




Rubella


This is Rubella (German Measles or 3 day measles, caused by the Rubella virus). Spread through the air. Symptoms include a rash, spreading from face to the rest of the body. Can be itchy. Fever, sore throat. Swollen lymph nodes, joint pain. Complications can include bleeding problems, swollen painful testicles and inflammation of the nerves. Infection during pregnancy can result in Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) which can result in child having eye and ear issues such as cataracts, deafness, or heart and brain issues, or miscarriage. No specific treatment. Women of "child-bearing age" can be screened for rubella immunity for free and given the rubella booster if required, free of charge.

Prevented with two doses of the MMR vaccine at 15 months and 4 years of age. 





Mumps


This is Mumps (caused by Mumps virus). Spread through saliva or respiratory fluids or direct contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, tiredness, and the characteristic, painful swelling of the saliva glands. Complications can include painful swelling of testicles, meningitis, pancreatitis, deafness and infertility in males. No specific treatment. 

Preventable with two doses of the MMR vaccine at 15 months and 4 years of age. 




Tetanus


This is tetanus (lockjaw, caused by Clostridium tetani). Bacteria is commonly found in soil, saliva, dust and manure. Characterised by muscle spasms, starting at the jaw and spreading to the body. Spasms can be so bad they can result in bone fractures. Other symptoms can be fever, sweating, headache, trouble swallowing and high blood pressure. 10% of infected will die. 

Prevention of Tetanus from DTaP vaccine at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old, full protection only comes with all 3 doses. Boosters are given at 4 years and 11 years old.




Hib
This is Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b). Spread through the air or direct contact. Can cause bacteremia, pneumonia, epiglottitis and acute bacterial meningitis. Can lead to death. Common neonatal infection. Since 2000, the vaccine for Hib, combined with the pneumococcal vaccine, has saved more than 1.4 million children's lives. 

Vaccine is given at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months and 15 months old.

Hib - CDC
Haemophilus influenzae type B - WHO
Hib - Ministry of Health
Hib - Wikipedia
Hib in Pictures

HPV

This is HPV, (caused by the Human Papillomavirus). Spread through sexual intercourse or contact with warts. Results in genital warts or precancerous lesions. These can lead to an increased risk of cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth and throat. 70% of cervical cancer is caused by two strains, HPV16 and HPV18. 60% - 90% of other cancers listed are due to HPV. Australia and New Zealand are on the verge of eradicating cervical cancer due to vaccination. 

Prevention from 2 shots of Gardasil 9 given at given at least 6 months apart for those aged 14 and under (recommended at age 11 or 12). 3 injections given over 6 months for those aged 15 and older

Hepatitis B

This is Hepatitis B (caused by the Hepatitis B virus). Spread through body fluids, such as blood and saliva. A common misconception is this is primarily a sexually transmitted disease. Can be spread through saliva, biting, tattooing or acupuncture as well. 
Can take up to 6 months for symptoms to present. These can include 
  • yellowish skin 
  • tiredness
  • dark urine
  • abdominal pain

 Complications such as cirrhosis (pictured) and liver cancer, can lead to death. In 2015, an estimated 887,000 people died as result of Hepatitis B complications. Treatment includes liver transplant or antiviral medication. 

Prevented with Hep B vaccine, given at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months of age.

Hepatitis B - CDC
Hepatitis B - WHO
Hepatitis B - Ministry of Health
Hepatitis B - Wikipedia
Hepatitis B in Pictures






Chickenpox

Symptoms can include
  • a fever
  • a headache
  • a runny nose
  • a cough
  • loss of appetite
  • feeling tired
A rash then follows after a few days. Some children can have very few spots and some will have hundreds. The spots can become extremely itchy and can spread all over the body, including in the mouth, throat and genital area. These spots will progress into blisters, which can become infected. There is a much higher risk of complications as adults. Risks can include viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia (90% of cases were infected adults), encephalitis. Can be lethal to individuals with impaired immunity. In 2013, 7000 deaths were attributed to chickenpox. The vaccine is far safer than the virus. As with all VPDs, some people will not be adversely affected by the disease, but the risk is not worth it.

Prevention comes with the chickenpox vaccine, given at 15 months.

Chickenpox Can Be Serious - CDC
Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013
Chickenpox - Ministry of Health
Chickenpox - Wikipedia
Chickenpox in Pictures


Shingles

(Caused by the Herpes Zoster virus). A painful rash and blisters that develop on one side of the face or body, with acute pain. Can last up to 4 weeks. Other symptoms are fever, headache, A common (25% of those affected) complication of shingles can be Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic nerve pain that can last after the illness has cleared up, for months or even years. Older people (2 thirds of those affected are over 50 years of age)  are more at risk, particularly if you had chickenpox as a child. The chickenpox virus can stay dormant in your body and present as shingles later in life. 

Shingles can be prevented with the Shingles vaccine, which is free for those over 65.



Rotavirus

Highly infectious gut virus. Can be mild to severe, including symptoms of extreme diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and abdominal pain, dehydration and shock. Can result in hospitalisation. In extreme conditions (developing countries) can lead to death. Spread through contact with feces of infected individuals. 

Prevented with an oral vaccine before 15 weeks of age, at 6 weeks and again at 3 months of age.


Pneumococcal Disease

A bacterial infection (caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae)  that can cause a number of conditions. These include meningitis, pneumonia, septicaemia or blood poisoning, or serious infections in soft tissue, bones or around the heart. Pneumococcal is the leading cause of pneumonia in younger and older people. 10% of children with pneumococcal meningitis will die and 1 in 6 will have permanent brain damage or other permanent ailments.

Prevented by the vaccine at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months and 15 months of age. Protection only comes with the 4 doses.


A viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain. Symptoms start as fever and tingling at the site of infection (usually a bite or scratch from infected animal or person). Symptoms can then progress to 


  • violent movements
  • uncontrolled excitement 
  • fear of water
  • an inability to move parts of the body 
  • confusion
  • loss of consciousness
Once these symptoms appear, the result is usually always death. 99% of transmission to humans are dogs. Causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, mainly in Asia and Africa. 

Elimination of this disease can be achieved through vaccination of dogs and prevention comes from a rabies vaccine for humans as well.




If you still have any questions about vaccination, please talk to your doctor or feel free to ask me any questions. Preferably your doctor! The risks of these diseases are far more serious than the risks of the vaccines themselves. Please vaccinate yourself and your children!

Comments

  1. Anonymous3 October 2018 at 23:27

    I blocked your page. Because clearly after I admitted to being vaccine injured I thought that would stop the likes of Michelle calling me a Fucking twit. The likes of Michelle obviously don't live with Epilepsy which was connected to vaccine I received at 6 weeks old. Sorry for my comments on your Facebook page but I am allowed to be angry at what your page stands for. But I will leave you alone now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MATINA24 July 2021 at 12:17

    I was diagnosed as HEPATITIS B carrier in 2013 with fibrosis of the
    liver already present. I started on antiviral medications which
    reduced the viral load initially. After a couple of years the virus
    became resistant. I started on HEPATITIS B Herbal treatment from
    ULTIMATE LIFE CLINIC (www.ultimatelifeclinic.com) in March, 2020. Their
    treatment totally reversed the virus. I did another blood test after
    the 6 months long treatment and tested negative to the virus. Amazing
    treatment! This treatment is a breakthrough for all HBV carriers.

    ReplyDelete

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