Immunization Matters

The last week of April of each year is World Immunization Week. The week was designated to promote vaccine use and our collective effort to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Immunization, by definition, is the “process” by which an individual’s immune system becomes more robust against the disease. The process is often activated by vaccination or inoculation. They are the treatments to introduce the specific pathogen into the human body. The means to include those pathogens in three formats:

• using a whole virus or bacteria
• only using parts of the virus that trigger the immune system
• only using the core of the virus, the genetic material.

These different vaccine formats also represent different strategies to induce a beneficial immune response and further involve immunization.

While controlling those stimulating immune responses seems forward-thinking, the concept of immunization was conceived as early as in the 15th century. During that period, healthy people from various parts of the world intentionally exposed themselves to people with smallpox to prevent similar illnesses.

After Dr. Edward Jenner first tested his scientific method against smallpox in 1796, the vaccine technology took a different scale. In the latter half of the 19th century, Louis Pasture created the first laboratory-produced vaccine. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic killed tens of millions worldwide, making the influenza vaccine the top priority. The vaccine then became mass-produced throughout the 20th century.

Three years ago, this month marked the number of Covid-19 cases worldwide passed one- million; revisiting the vaccination history became particularly meaningful. That reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Providing free on-site flu vaccines with education on good health habits can increase vaccination rates and reduce flu cases.” — WELL, C06, Health Services and Benefits.

And the fourth part of that feature is letting the project identifies an immunization relevant to the target population and implements an immunization program for all designed spaces.

On this momentous day, we place this card by our desks. May the WELL standards be our guide to help program clients’ space next time.