Immunisation: Honouring the Journey, Embracing Informed Choice

A Brief History of Vaccines: Humanity’s Battle Against Disease

The story of immunisation stretches back centuries. In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner pioneered the first successful vaccine using cowpox material to create immunity to smallpox – a deadly disease that killed millions annually. His work laid the groundwork for modern vaccinology, leading to the eventual eradication of smallpox by 1980, officially declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Following Jenner, Louis Pasteur advanced the science in the 19th century by developing vaccines for rabies and anthrax. The 20th century witnessed a rapid expansion: vaccines for polio (Jonas Salk, 1955), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR vaccine, 1971), and more recently, the groundbreaking mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunisation has prevented at least 103 million cases of childhood illnesses since 1924 in the United States alone. Globally, vaccines are estimated to save 4-5 million lives every year (WHO, 2024).

However, the journey has not been without challenges.

The Need for Vaccination and Recognised Risks

Vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognise and fight pathogens without causing the disease itself. Their value in public health cannot be overstated: they prevent epidemics, reduce mortality rates, protect vulnerable populations and help achieve herd immunity.

Yet, as with any medical intervention, vaccines are not without side effects. Mild reactions such as soreness at the injection site, fever and fatigue are common. Rare but severe adverse events, like anaphylaxis or Guillain-Barré syndrome, have been documented. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) was established in 1990 to monitor and investigate such occurrences.

Throughout history, issues such as contaminated vaccines (e.g., the Cutter Incident in 1955, where improperly inactivated polio vaccine led to cases of polio) have fuelled distrust. These realities highlight the need for continual vigilance, rigorous testing and transparent communication.

A Comprehensive Overview: Arguments For and Against Immunisation

Support for Vaccination:

• Scientific Evidence: Countless studies affirm vaccine safety and efficacy. A 2022 meta-analysis in The Lancet concluded that vaccines reduce disease-specific mortality by more than 90% in vaccinated populations.
• Public Health Impact: Herd immunity protects those who cannot be vaccinated, such as immunocompromised individuals and infants.
• Economic Benefits: Vaccination reduces healthcare costs significantly. The CDC estimates that every $1 spent on vaccines in the U.S. saves $10 in disease treatment.

Scepticism and Opposition:

• Safety Concerns: Some individuals raise concerns about vaccine ingredients, including adjuvants like aluminium and preservatives like thimerosal, though major studies (e.g., by the Institute of Medicine) have found no credible evidence linking vaccines to chronic health issues like autism.
• Pharmaceutical Mistrust: Historic cases of unethical medical practices, such as the Tuskegee syphilis study, have fuelled deep mistrust, especially among marginalised communities.
• Religious and Cultural Beliefs: Certain faiths (e.g., Christian Scientists) reject medical interventions, including vaccines, viewing health and healing as spiritual matters.
• Socio-Economic Barriers: Access to safe and affordable vaccines remains an issue in many developing nations, perpetuating health inequalities.

Recent Research on Benefits and Risks:

A comprehensive 2024 study published in Nature Reviews Immunology reaffirmed that while adverse events do occur, they are exceedingly rare compared to the risks posed by the diseases vaccines prevent. Meanwhile, ethical debates surrounding COVID-19 vaccine mandates intensified conversations about bodily autonomy, civil liberties and the role of government in personal health decisions.

Real-Life Examples: Successes and Failures

Success Stories:

• Smallpox Eradication: Thanks to a coordinated global vaccination campaign, smallpox, once killing 30% of those infected, has not had a single natural case since 1977.
• Polio Near-Eradication: Global cases have dropped by 99% since 1988, thanks to widespread immunisation efforts led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Controversial or Failed Instances:

• Cutter Incident (1955): A rushed polio vaccine rollout resulted in 40,000 cases of polio, 200 cases of paralysis and 10 deaths in the U.S.
• Forced Vaccination Campaigns: In some countries, vaccinations were used coercively, violating informed consent, particularly during colonial or authoritarian regimes, undermining trust that persists today.

These examples show that while vaccines offer incredible benefits, mismanagement and unethical practices cause real harm and lasting consequences.

Vaccination: A Personal Right Rooted in Bodily Integrity

At its core, the decision to vaccinate or not, is an exercise of the fundamental human rights to bodily autonomy and informed consent. International law, including the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO, 2005), affirms that any preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic medical intervention must be based on prior, free and informed consent.

This does not diminish the societal value of immunisation but it does underscore the inviolable right of every individual to make health choices based on accurate information, not fear, coercion or misinformation.

Final Thoughts: Choose Knowledge Over Fear

This World Immunisation Week, let’s honour the lives saved, the lessons learned and the freedoms preserved. We urge you to:

• Seek reputable sources: Scientific journals, public health organisations and trusted healthcare providers are critical information resources.
• Ask critical questions: Understand both the proven benefits and the potential risks of vaccines.
• Respect each other’s choices: Recognise that individual decisions are influenced by a mosaic of personal, cultural and social factors.

Knowledge is your power. Ignorance is not a shield. Choose wisely and choose informed.