Diphtheria History

The advancements in new medicines and immunizations have saved millions of people from harmful diseases. However, these accomplishments, which appear second nature to us, weren’t always available and accessible. In fact, the shift in proactive preventative public health occurred due to uncontrollable outbreaks such as diphtheria. Though we create vaccines to subdue mass epidemics, the issue of how to take further preventative action still persists globally. After reading the article, Diphtheria History, I felt really fascinated with the 1927 view of diseases. In this section, the editors appear extremely positive about the new advancements for getting rid of diphtheria. They personify the disease as monstrous—a great opposition—and describe the rapid expansion of immunizations all the way from the East to West Coast.1 They even anticipate the moment when scientists will tell the public that there is a complete eradication of diphtheria.1 The hopeful perception of 1927 is entirely different than today. In comparison to the other articles I have read for class, I think this article really made me disappointed in people; it reminds me that people today do not …show more content…
Despite the vast availability, today’s individuals do not take advantage of being vaccinated. It appears that overtime, there has been a drastic shift in population mindset. Our collective behavior is reflected on that fact that we do not even think twice about the history, time, or the massive deaths that occurred to get us protection against life threatening diseases. Vaccines have become an everyday accessory that we can voluntarily choose to use or ignore. It is not of high priority because the risk and the amount of people dying from diphtheria or other diseases is no longer an issue. It only becomes a problem only when there is a reappearance of an old disease (i.e. measles) or the onset of a new