In the past century, the introduction of vaccines is considered the most important development in medicine for public health. The common goal of many different types of vaccines is to protect individuals against serious complications such as disability and death due to infections, prevent epidemics, and ultimately eliminate the disease-causing agent from the world. In other words, they are implemented to make the entire society healthier. Thanks to vaccination programs implemented worldwide, smallpox was eradicated from the earth in the 1970s. Polio is no longer seen in developed societies that implement vaccination programs well. In our country, vaccination programs are being emphasized and expanded through our Ministry of Health to improve our public health and prevent early childhood deaths due to infections. Thanks to vaccines developed and routinely used against many infectious agents such as whooping cough, tetanus, tuberculosis, meningitis, and measles, millions of children worldwide have been protected from disabilities and death. Significant reductions in early childhood deaths are observed in countries that can implement vaccination programs completely and to the entire society.
However, in recent years, we are sadly witnessing the development of anti-vaccine campaigns in our country and worldwide, and this situation is becoming increasingly widespread. When we look at the statements of anti-vaccine advocates, we see that they are far from scientific, covering individual concerns rather than public health, and on social media, people other than scientists, without the slightest knowledge about vaccines, contribute to the increase in the number of these anti-vaccine individuals by making false statements based on hearsay.
Vaccines against dozens of infectious agents that can cause childhood deaths exist and are being used worldwide and in our country. However, for these vaccines to be effective throughout society and improve overall public health, all our children must be vaccinated.
Vaccination and a healthy life are the most natural rights of every child. Every effort made to vaccinate our children will contribute to reducing childhood deaths and disabilities related to infections.
