covid 19 , preventive measures and vaccinations essay
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Answer:
Today marks the start of the World Immunization Week. The COVID-19 pandemic, while draws the world’s attention to the vaccine, also reminds us of the importance of immunization, which saves millions of lives each year.
WHO is working with partners all over the world to accelerate research and development of a safe and effective vaccine and ensure equitable access for the billions of people who will need it. But even with an expedited process, development of a vaccine for COVID-19 will take time.
The ongoing pandemic disrupts routine immunization services in many countries. When immunization services are disrupted, even for brief periods during emergencies, the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, such as measles and polio, increase. Further disease outbreaks will also overwhelm health systems already battling the impacts of COVID-19.
WHO continues to support countries to maintain essential immunization for all vaccine preventable diseases. We issued guidance on immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic, which provides guiding principles and considerations to support countries in their decision-making regarding provision of immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Question 1: The world is waiting for a vaccine against COVID-19. Could you explain how vaccines work to prevent disease?
Answer: Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases. Vaccines reduce risks of getting diseases by working with our body’s natural defenses to build protection. When we get a vaccine, our immune system responds, it
· recognizes the invading germ, such as the virus or bacteria,
· produces antibodies, proteins produced naturally by the immune system to fight disease;
· remembers the disease and how to fight it. If you are then exposed to the germ in the future, your immune system can quickly destroy it before you become unwell.
Question 2: News says dozens of vaccine candidates are being research. How long does it usually take to develop a vaccine? What is the process people use to test a candidate vaccine and the process is important?
Answer: Process of vaccine development usually needs a few years or even decades. Once a promising candidate vaccine is identified in research, it will firstly undergo scrupulous laboratory testing and preclinical studies, before the manufacture can apply for clinical trials:[1]
The clinical trials are bound by strict regulations and take place across three phases:
During Phase I, small groups (approximately 20-50 people) receive the vaccine. This phase will assess the safety, side effects, appropriate dosage, method of administration and composition of the vaccine.
If it is successful, it will proceed to Phase II. At this stage, the vaccine is usually given to several hundred people. This group will have the same characteristics (e.g. age, sex) as the people for whom the vaccine is intended to be given.
In Phase III, the vaccine is usually given to thousands of people to help ensure it is safe and effective for broader use.[2]
The results of all these studies will be rigorously assessed when regulators decide whether to approve a vaccine. Once a vaccine is approved for use, the vaccine must be continuously monitored to ensure the safety for the vaccinated peoples.[3]
Question 3: How do we know if vaccination will be safe? I know some people will have negative reactions after vaccination?
Answer: Vaccines approved by competent national regulatory authorities are very safe. As with all medicines, side effects can occur after getting a vaccine. However, these are usually very minor and of short duration, such as a sore arm or a mild fever. More serious side effects are possible, but extremely rare. A person is far more likely to be seriously harmed by a disease than by a vaccine.[4]
WHO works closely with national authorities to ensure that global standards are developed and made readily available to assess the quality, safety and immunogenicity of biological products including vaccines.[5]
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