Vaccination is important for the community health
Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Medicine Academic Staff Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Seyer, noting that the COVID-19 epidemic is still continuously effective across the world, went on to say, “Putting the COVID-19 epidemic to an end is possible if we achieve social immunity. In order to achieve social immunity, we need to accept the vaccine, which is important in obtaining success from the vaccine”.
Stating that there are basically two ways in which individuals can become immune to an infectious agent, Seyer continued, “The first way is to contract the virus or bacteria that causes the disease and become unwell. During this process, the immune system will create antibodies and fight the microbe, and in the event, the immune system manages to defeat the microbe, recovery will be established”.
Explaining that the second way is to establish protection by being vaccinated, without encountering the virus or bacteria, Seyer went on to advise, “Being protected via vaccination is based on the training of our immune system. Therefore, being vaccinated means that we are able to be protected from infectious diseases in an easy, reliable, and effective way, without encountering viruses or bacteria”.
Seyer reminded that vaccines contain inanimate or weakened forms of microorganisms, or a region of the virus or bacterial cell and added that therefore, when vaccines are injected into the body, they do not make people sick, meanwhile eradicating the risk of encountering any complications that may arise in the case of illness.
In 1998, the distrust towards vaccines gained momentum due to a study group claiming a connection between the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine and autism spectrum disorder informed Seyer, who continued, “Whereas in truth, the publication was prepared completely based on false data, which was removed from publication shortly after. Despite this, large scale damage has been bestowed upon the success of vaccination programs”.
Advising that according to scientific studies, the main source of information gathering for anti-vaccine groups is social media, Seyer enlightened, “However, when this is the case, encountering false and misleading information is inevitable. This is because generally, only part of scientific publications is taken to hand and highlighted upon social media”.
Noting the insufficiency of just reading a scientific publication, Seyer elaborated that it is necessary for the data to be analyzed by someone in light of their previously obtained sufficient knowledge on the subject.
Seyer stated that vaccines are a gift from modern science, and went on to say, “Approaching the quick development of the vaccine during the pandemic as unreliable, based on the previous lengths of timescales taken to develop a vaccine, is the wrong approach. During this emergency, vaccines were developed a lot quicker due to global scientific collaborations”.
Seyer added that according to many scientific studies, it has been revealed that opposers of vaccinations tend to reject scientific data in relation to vaccines, ignore the experiences of those vaccinated, and further, they also adopt unfounded conspiracy theories in relation to vaccines, which are not based on any scientific data.
Seyer reminded that under all circumstances, risks are always present, however, she went on to remind that they are also present when driving, consuming unhealthy foods, using devices that emit radiation, or when using antibiotics.
Noting that every person can experience different side effects towards even the simplest drugs, Seyer highlighted the importance of focusing on the benefits of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, instead of exaggerating the small percentage of possible side effects.
Concluding that the fight against the virus is a globally common struggle, Seyer noted that when it comes to the success of the struggle against this pandemic, anti-vaccination is a major obstacle.