Early Childhood Vaccines

Disease kills more than 172,000 people a year. So why not prevent it? The easiest way to prevent getting a disease is with a vaccine. A vaccine contains weakened antigens which carry the disease. An antigen is a molecule that causes your immune system to produce antibodies--- proteins whose main purpose is to kill antigens. When a vaccine is injected into your body, your body thinks that the vaccine is the disease so it creates many antibodies. Then, if you come in contact with the disease, your body will fight it with the antibodies it already produced and you will not contract the disease. The first vaccine was made by Edward Jenner in 1796 and was later developed in 1798. Jenner injected a young boy with a cowpox serum, that later successfully prevented the boy from contracting smallpox. After many medical and technological changes made to Jenner’s vaccine, smallpox was soon eradicated. When a disease is eradicated, it is completely destroyed. In the middle of the 20th century scientists and researchers grew viruses in labs which led to rapid discoveries on many childhood vaccines which are still used today. People should get vaccines because they are safe and effective, they save generations to come, and they protect others who cannot get vaccinated. One of the …show more content…
This is so important because it keeps children and communities safe and has the ability to completely eradicate a disease. This is also very beneficial for travelers and doctors because they can come in contact with the sick, however the doctors and travelers will be protected of certain diseases. Some diseases that killed and injured people in the past are now not as common. Vaccines also have the ability to save lives. According to a United Nations Foundation partner organization, vaccines saved approximately 2.5 million children every year. That's 285 children saved every