Vaccines and the Diseases They Prevent

calendar_monthPublished on 19 Sep, 2022

autorenewUpdated on 9 Jan, 2025
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Written by Munmi Sharma

Reviewed by Anjali Sharma
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Vaccines are used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against several diseases. They are usually prepared from the conducive agent of a disease or a substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. Vaccines have prevented countless diseases and saved millions of lives over the years. Be it infants, children, adolescents, teens or adults, vaccines are available for several ailments depending on health conditions.

What are Vaccines?

Vaccines are a medical treatment that helps our body's immune system recognise and fight disease. It is used to stimulate the production of antibodies in the body, providing immunity against one or a few diseases. A vaccine consists of weakened or synthetically made versions of germs or parts of germs. When any vaccine is administered in the body, our immune system responds to the antigens in the same way as with the actual germ.

What is Immunisation?

Immunisation is the process of making our body resistant to diseases, usually through vaccines. Through immunisation, you stimulate the immune system to identify pathogens, viruses, or bacteria. The body produces a self-immune response by creating antibodies. Immunisation also helps in preventing serious health issues such as measles, polio, and tetanus. It is a vital part of public health to reduce the spread of contagious diseases.

National Immunisation Day

National Immunisation Day, also known as National Vaccination Day, is celebrated in India on March 16 each year. This day is observed for the introduction of Polio vaccines in India, leading to the launch of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in 1995.

National Immunisation Day highlights the efforts of healthcare workers who ensure that every child is vaccinated. Each year, government authorities set certain themes which emphasise that safe and effective vaccinations are necessary to safeguard all human lives from preventable diseases, regardless of age, gender, location, or socioeconomic status.

Types of Vaccines

Below are the vaccines recommended and authorised by most government bodies and doctors to keep people safe from outbreaks in the future:

Vaccine	Disease	Symptoms and effects
Varicella vaccine	Chickenpox	Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It leads to blister-like rashes, fatigue, itching, and fever. One dose of Varicella vaccine prevents 95% of moderate disease and 100% of severe disease.
Toxoid vaccine	Diphtheria	Diphtheria is a harmful infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is the toxin that makes people seriously sick. It is the safest vaccine to protect against Diphtheria.
Nasovac-S Vaccine	Flu (influenza)	Flu is a severe respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the throat and nose and attack the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and may lead to hospitalisation and death.
Biovac A Vaccine	Hepatitis A	It is a liver-related disease caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). This vaccine is effective in almost 95% of cases and lasts for at least twenty years and possibly a person's entire life.
Energix B, and Recombivax HB	Hepatitis B	It is a severe disease caused by a virus that directly attacks the liver. It can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Hib Conjugate Vaccine	HPV (Human Papillomavirus)	The virus that causes HPV infection is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. This vaccine is recommended for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Haemophilus Influenzae type b.
Tresivac	Measles	It is a contagious ailment caused by a virus and it spreads if the infected person coughs or sneezes. It starts with a cough, runny nose, red eyes, and fever, and then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. It is for active immunisation against Measles, Mumps and Rubella in children, adolescents and young adults at risk.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine	Meningococcal	This illness is often severe and can be deadly as it includes infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream.
MMR vaccine	Mumps	It is an infectious viral disease causing swelling of the salivary glands in the face and risk of sterility in adult males.
Pulse Polio	Polio (Poliomyelitis)	Polio is a disabling and potentially deadly disease caused by the poliovirus. It spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis.
Tetanus Vaccine	Tetanus (Lockjaw)	Tetanus is a potentially fatal bacterial infection affecting nerves.
Covieshield and Covaxin	Covid-19	This disease (COVID-19) is an infectious and contagious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can spread in small liquid particles from an infected person’s mouth or nose. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols.
Pneumococcal	Pneumonia	The pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacterial infections like pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections, sinusitis, and bloodstream infections. It doesn't cause infections or treat them.
BCG	Tuberculosis (TB)	The BCG vaccine may also help the immune system kill cancer cells and is being studied in the treatment of melanoma.
Human papillomavirus vaccine	Genital warts and other HPV-caused cancers	It prevents infection with HPV, a group of viruses that can cause genital warts and certain types of cancer.
Rabies vaccine	Rabies virus	Soreness, redness, swelling, or itching at the site of the injection, and headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, or dizziness can happen after rabies vaccine.

What are the Benefits of Vaccinations?

Vaccination helps your body stop an infection before it starts. It is one of the most effective public health interventions ever developed.

Vaccination is important to prevent the spread of infectious illnesses within populations.
It also enhances immunity to specific viruses or bacteria.
Vaccination protects people, such as infants, older people, and immunocompromised people.
Vaccination is an inexpensive public health measure that saves lives and prevents long-term health consequences caused by infectious diseases.

What are the Common Side Effects of Vaccines?

There are mostly mild side effects after vaccination. The most common side effects are a sign that your body is starting to build immunity (protection) against a disease. Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given, accompanied with mild fever, chills, feeling tired, headache, muscle and joint aches are some of the common side effects of vaccines. In some rare cases, fainting can also happen after any medical procedure, including vaccinations.

In a Nutshell

Immunisations are a fundamental part of primary health care and an absolute human right. It is also one of the indispensable health investments that can’t be avoided.

While it is necessary to get vaccinated, one should always be aware of getting comprehensive health insurance in place to get financial assistance for unforeseen medical emergencies. Care Health Insurance ensures you don't have to spend out of your pocket for hospitalisation expenses and be financially burdened. So, make sure you are aware of the vaccinations that prevent critical illnesses and the importance of investing in health insurance.

Disclaimer: The above-mentioned information is for reference purposes only. Consult your doctor or health expert before deciding on any vaccination/immunisation.