On World Immunisation Week, Dr Arun Kalyanasundaram, Director and Chief – Division of Cardiology, Promed Hospital, Chennai advices that there ought to be a concerted effort among governments and scientists in sending the message that the potential benefits of vaccines far outweigh the potential side effects
Vaccines that have been launched in record speed since the discovery of the COVID-19 virus. Further research and drive in this area is the need of the hour. As an example, a recent study on flu vaccines showed that among adults, flu vaccination reduced the risk of being admitted to an ICU with flu by 82 per cent. This is a staggering number.
Flu vaccines, we know, are especially an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions, such as those with cardiac or respiratory conditions. Vaccines themselves continue to advance, bringing us closer to a world free from the likes of TB and cervical cancer, and ending suffering from childhood diseases like measles.
The misinformation brigade has to be dealt with and countered by strong public health messages from governments, NGOs and doctors. There ought to be a concerted effort among governments and scientists in sending the message that the potential benefits of vaccines far outweigh the potential side effects. Educating people about the various steps involved in vaccine development before they are disseminated to the masses (to ensure adequate efficacy and safety) should be highlighted to the public.
India with its strong pharma base is ideally poised to take the lead in vaccine development. The collaborative spirit seen across countries in the development and dissemination of vaccines should continue beyond.
Investment and new research is enabling ground-breaking approaches to vaccine development, which are changing the science of immunisation forever, bringing us closer still to a healthier future.
- Advertisement -