Imagine a world in which small pox is rampant, everyone is cautious, trying to not catch the disease. People are avoiding each other and entrapped in their homes. How would the world as we know it change? This world would be one in which the invention of the vaccine did not exist. Edward Jenner developed the idea of vaccinations in 1796 during a time when small pox was a serious issue. Jenner used the cowpox virus to infect humans, which allows for a minor infection that causes the immune system to have the proper response if later introduced to the smallpox virus. With the worldwide distribution of the smallpox vaccine, smallpox was the first disease to be eradicated in 1979. As stated by a physician and biomedical scientist, “Despite these successes, approximately 6.6 million children still die each year and about a half of these deaths are caused by infections, including pneumonia and diarrhea, which could be prevented by vaccination” (Greenwood). This quote reveals the need for vaccinations and shows how the skepticism can result in children dying from diseases that they could be vaccinated against, yet there is still skepticism regarding vaccinations. Cases of vaccinations showing harmful components in vaccines and negatively impacting children, causing autism and other disorders, have been reported by parents. This resulted in a decline in the number of people receiving vaccines, which in turn results in a problem. When less vaccinations are given, infectious diseases can spread much more easily. Infectious diseases are a huge global issue, especially in places of large populations, which can only be solved through vaccinations. With all of the different claims and controversy surrounding immunizations, it’s important to ask what are the effects of vaccinations on the individual and on the community. 

Vaccinations have a global impact that is largely positive and allows for aspects of life to be improved. Due to the progress caused by vaccinations, efforts should be made to distribute, provide, and educate populations on vaccinations. The skepticism surrounding vaccines seems to be the product of distrust and misinformation. With more education on vaccinations it will be clear that vaccines efforts and funding should be increased to allow for the production of more vaccinations and a wide distribution of vaccinations. Furthermore, the debate surrounding vaccinations seems to chiefly be focused around childhood vaccinations. However, vaccines have a much more significant impact on a global level and impact everyone within any community. Greenwood states, “Global coverage of vaccination against many important infectious diseases of childhood has been enhanced dramatically.”  This quote is similar to many sources in that it exhibits how much of an impact vaccines have had, however, it does so by only looking at children and childhood diseases. Immunizations were developed for protection from diseases and while they have a significant impact on protecting children from many dangerous diseases, they do much more than that. Vaccinations impact everyone on a daily basis, yet it goes by unnoticed. 

The first impact of vaccinations, which may seem obvious, is that they are able to prevent diseases. However, people don’t realize just how significant of an impact vaccines have in our daily lives today on health. Diseases which used to be devastating to human populations are now easily avoided. Contie et. al. state, “Vaccines will prevent about 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths among U.S. children born over the last 20 years, according to a recent report.” This quote reveals just how much illness immunizations can prevent, while only focused on children and only within the U.S. If 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths are prevented within 20 years, only in U.S. children, how many children are saved worldwide? Furthermore, how many adults are saved through vaccinations? How many humans can be saved through vaccinations? The numbers would keep rising. The impact vaccines have had on the quality of life is undeniable when the numbers of prevention are this large. Humans can now live longer and conquer over diseases which used to be fatal. Smallpox, a highly fatal, infectious, and painful disease, was eradicated through the worldwide distribution of vaccinations. The smallpox vaccine no longer needs to be used because smallpox is no longer a threat. Why haven’t any other human diseases been eradicated? Vaccination efforts have dropped and speculation regarding the effectiveness of vaccinations has risen. The effectiveness of immunizations on disease prevention is reason to further develop and distribute vaccines for the infectious diseases which are currently causing challenges worldwide. 

Furthermore, while vaccinations are a personal decision of which exemptions can be given, being vaccinated does not only effect you. Being a vaccinated individual can have an effect on anyone within your community and on anyone wherever you may travel. There are many individuals within a community who may not be able to be vaccinated. This includes newborns or people with certain health conditions who may have a compromised immune system that cannot withstand vaccinations. There are also some vaccinations pregnant women cannot receive. These individuals need to be protected somehow from these infectious diseases without receiving vaccinations. The solution is something called herd immunity. As stated in a Ted conference, “Vaccinations work based on herd immunity” (Diamond). Herd immunity is when a certain percentage or more of the population is vaccinated. This percentage of immunizations allows for the rest of the population, which is not vaccinated to be protected from disease. If everyone around is vaccinated then it is safe for that person who cannot be vaccinated because they would not catch the disease from anyone. Furthermore, with the rates of global travel today, diseases can spread extremely easily more than any other time period. Outbreaks in any country can quickly go from an epidemic to a pandemic. Therefore, it is important and necessary for herd immunity to be met worldwide. This shows just how much of a global impact vaccinations have. The population of the world, needs to meet this herd immunity percentage so that traveling does not cause the spread of disease especially to the people who have no protection because they cannot be vaccinated. By meeting herd immunity vaccination allows for the maximum level of protection against a disease and allows for a healthy population. Another method that allows for the protection of individuals who cannot be vaccinated involves vaccinating expecting mothers. While some vaccinations should not be taken while pregnant, other vaccinations are safe and helpful for the child and mother. These vaccination allow for mothers to be able to provide their infants with the proper antibodies needed to protect them from certain diseases lasting for a couple months. Pan-Ngum et. al. state, “…if children are born to mothers who received maternal vaccination they would be similarly affected as if vaccinated as infants but with the protection commencing from birth and lasting for either 3 months or 6 months” (406). Through this infants gain another way to be protected before reaching the age which they can be vaccinated at. This in turn impacts every single family and allows for young infants to have another form of protection along with herd immunity. Herd immunity and maternal vaccinations allow for the protection of people who otherwise have no other protection from diseases. Vaccinations have allowed for this defense system to be developed against disease and with worldwide vaccinations, this system can be much more successful. 

While immunizations may seem to only significantly impact the health of populations, they actually have some unseen impacts. Putten et. al. state, “Before a new or improved vaccine is added to such a program, the vaccine first has to be evaluated. In this process called vaccine introduction, one of the steps is to look at the economic and financial consequences of introducing the vaccine” (1). This was a study conducted that looked to find all of the possible economic impacts of vaccinations and then compared them to decide which impacts have the most long lasting effect. Among the twenty three economic impacts found some include, healthcare savings, increased productivity of working individuals, reduction in school absence, and reduction in mortality rates. The healthcare savings that vaccines provide are a direct result of disease prevention. However, these healthcare savings also include savings in terms of mental health. When populations in general throughout the world have less disease, the rates of mental health issues decrease. This is simply because vaccinations allow for a happier and free environment without the fear of contagious diseases. While the healthcare savings were determined to be the most significant impact, the other effects are also important. When less individuals are sick, this provides a more productive economy. People can work at a normal level when they are not ill. With vaccinations around the economy can run well with a more productive work force. Furthermore, the reductions in school absences and in mortality are among the many positive effects of vaccinations which can also impact the economy. On a global level, these economic impacts would be greatly more significant and help with the global economy. 

Other unexpected impacts of vaccinations involve the treatment of addiction and even Alzheimer’s. Addiction and Alzheimer’s are worldwide issues that can impact not only the person effected but also the people around them, in some ways these are “contagious” diseases and are a daily struggle. Brashier et. al. state, “In 2013, a therapeutic vaccine against alcoholism was developed in University of Chile, Santiago, for the first time. Animal studies have shown 50% decrease in addiction” (489).  This quote introduces therapeutic vaccines which are immunizations used as a way of treatment. On animal studies it was found that there is a 50% drop in the addiction rates towards alcohol. At these rates, addiction may no longer be a challenge. Similar studies were also conducted on nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids. All of these studies showed a decrease in the addiction rates to these substances. These drugs work by crossing the blood-brain barrier and the vaccinations work by blocking these drugs from crossing that barrier by developing antibodies which bind to the drug and prevent it from having a psychological effect. In some cases such as alcohol addiction, the vaccines work through gene intervention to prevent drug dependence. This field of vaccinations is not yet well explored but clearly has the potential to assist many people suffering from addiction and that impact is doubled as addiction does more than effect that one person. Furthermore, on a global level addictions throughout every country can be prevented. Brashier et. al. also state, “According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, monetary loss only in the USA regarding drug abuse was in millions of dollars” (487). This quote states that millions of dollars are spent on drugs and drug abuse issues within the U.S. only. At this level, imagine how much is spent across the world. These vaccinations will not only allow for a save in money overtime but will also help improve the quality of life for the many people caught in drug abuse and addiction. Other than addiction issues, studies conducted also suggest that vaccinations may be able to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Further studies of vaccinations may allow these vaccinations to truly become a reality and the issues of addictions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s will turn into minor problems. The overall quality of life for everyone around the world can be improved by improving health more than just by preventing typical diseases. 

However, the progress of vaccinations can be halted when the skepticism of people towards immunizations is on the rise. People are hesitant toward receiving vaccines due to fear of what vaccinations contain and what they can do. Offit and Jew state, “Some parents, alerted by stories in the news media or on the World Wide Web, are concerned that substances such as thimerosal, formaldehyde, aluminum, antibiotics, and gelatin are harmful” (1394). This quote reveals the impact that media has caused regarding the hesitancy towards vaccines. While substances in vaccines may be harmful in larger quantities, vaccinations are safe and must pass many tests and processes before being administered to people. Offit and Jew also state, “Data was generated in mice that were inoculated orally with various quantities of aluminum lactate. No adverse reactions were observed when mice were fed quantities of aluminum as high as 62 mg/kg/day” (1396). This quote shows the study which was conducted with mice introducing them to extremely high levels of some of these substances, in this case, aluminum, and as stated there were not any reactions showing harm in the mice. Furthermore, the risk numbers for humans were concluded to be 2 mg/kg/day of aluminum. The mice were injected at 62mg/kg/day and did not have signs of a severe reaction, for humans the highest number is 2mg/kg/day. Vaccinations contain much less amounts of aluminum or any of these substances than these numbers and are therefore safe and would not cause adverse effects in individuals. Yet with so much data revealing that there is not link between vaccinations and conditions like autism, there is still hesitancy towards vaccinations. In a study conducted on vaccine hesitancy three main reasons were found as the main reasons for the global hesitancy toward vaccinations that has been observed. The first reason found to be a cause of hesitancy was fear of vaccinations. This goes from fear having a needle injection to having fear of foreign injections. This issue can be addressed by educating individuals on what is being injected and how it will prevent disease. There have also been vaccinations developed which do not involve needle injections to help ease the experience, however, one needle injection compared to the disease it can prevent is a small price to pay.  Marti et. al. state, “The second most frequently cited reason for vaccination hesitancy was knowledge and awareness issues. This was a common concern in low-and lower-middle-income countries. Addressing the gaps in knowledge may help decrease vaccine hesitancy” (10). This quote from the study states the second factor for hesitancy being issues in knowledge and awareness regarding vaccinations. This shows that an issue is the lack of information that people may have due to being misinformed, weather through media or false claims. By thoroughly educating individuals worldwide on immunizations, this issue can be solved. The third most common reason for not receiving vaccinations was religion. More assessments of these religions are required to determine how vaccinations and the beliefs do not match in order to reach agreements with religious leaders. This hesitancy and issues can all be resolved easily, as all the evidence points to show how vaccinations can positively affect populations throughout the world. 

Harris et. al. state, “It is estimated that one year of global BCG vaccination at usual levels of coverage (90 %) averts 117,132 TB deaths during the first 15 years of life of that cohort. Therefore, without BCG, the point estimate of annual HIV-negative pediatric TB mortality would be estimated to increase from 80,000 to approximately 197,100” (3). This study looks into the effects of shortages of vaccinations. It shows this by looking at shortages in the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine which is used against tuberculosis (TB). The shortage of this vaccine is estimated increase the number of deaths by about 117, 100. With the massive amount of deaths, globally, that vaccines can prevent, when there is a shortage there is severe setback and the disease prevalence and deaths rise as the herd immunity percentage is not met. This shows why it is imperative that efforts are made to produce, develop, and administer vaccinations worldwide. 

Sun states, “The partnership will be called the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI. It grew out of the lessons from the world’s woeful lack of preparedness for the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people and caused at least $2.2 billion in economic losses in the three hardest-hit countries.”  This quote is a reminder of the issues that are currently being observed with global health. Vaccines need to be developed in order to prepare for these outbreaks. The CEPI partnership is one made of organizations and countries which are raising money for the development and a research into vaccinations. Vaccinations are usually used to prevent diseases, specifically childhood diseases, however immunizations impact people in a much greater sense. They have allowed for the quality of life to be improved for everyone on a global level and can continue to do so by continued funds, production, and research into vaccines. With the continuous research, vaccinations in the modern world can be used in new ways and eradicate more diseases from the human population. 
