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INTERVIEW
What exactly is a vaccination?
Inducing an immune response by administering a weakened part of a pathogen or similar antigen into our body is called vaccination.
Why is adult vaccination essential?
There are many reasons, firstly, if you did not receive the dose that you should have received as a child, secondly, because your immunity decreases over time and you have to take it again and finally, the dynamics have changed. To explain that last part simply, it refers to a disease that adults didn’t get, but as the epidemiology changed, adults got it too. In addition, there are many vaccines aimed at adolescents and adults, such as human papillomavirus and herpes zoster, and recently many adults, including the elderly, with weak immune systems have been introduced. Finally, I would like to say that adult vaccination is absolutely necessary to respond to new infectious diseases such as COVID-19, which we have all experienced.
How do adult vaccinations differ from pediatric vaccinations?
In the case of children, vaccination is given to all, not just some, and the main goal is to prevent the onset and disability of infectious diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella, and to block the spread of infectious diseases by the public. health point of view. Adults can be vaccinated individually and the goal is to prevent serious complications and death and reduce the burden of illnesses such as hospitalization. Representative examples include influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
Even if I currently do not suffer from any illnesses or physical ailments and was diagnosed in excellent health during a health check, do I still need to get vaccinated?
The reason vaccination is recommended for adults is because if they don’t get vaccinated and get the disease, they could become much more seriously ill or even die. A vaccine is what prevents the worst that could happen. We must keep in mind that each individual’s immunity is bound to differ depending on all infectious diseases and each causative bacterium, and that our bodies can be exposed to any number of new viruses. In contrast, people with very weak immune systems may not be able to get vaccinated. Therefore, vaccination is essential for healthy adults.
In the case of Covid-19, there have been many cases of contracting the Covid-19 virus even after receiving the third dose of the vaccine. Why?
In the case of respiratory viruses like COVID-19, it is virtually impossible to develop a drug that can prevent it 100%. And as previously mentioned, the COVID-19 virus vaccine is primarily intended to prevent severe progression, including hospitalization and death, in high-risk groups such as the elderly and immunocompromised. Basically, the purpose of adult vaccination is to reduce hospitalizations and deaths due to serious complications and weaken the condition, and vaccination against the COVID-19 virus for all adults has clearly been effective in reducing serious complications in adults.
In your opinion, which vaccine is absolutely necessary for adults?
I would like to talk about the hepatitis A vaccine. Hepatitis A is transmitted through consumption of contaminated drinking water and food, and the risk has increased to the point that it is now classified as a nationwide mandatory vaccination for children. Specifically, adults between the ages of 20 and 50 who contract hepatitis A have a 1-2% chance of developing liver failure and needing a liver transplant. However, if you vaccinate, the prevention effect is 97-100%.
So, are there any vaccinations you would recommend for women in their 30s and 40s?
These are vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria, as well as the aforementioned vaccines against hepatitis A and influenza. In the case of vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria it is recommended to have them every 10 years.
Are there people who need to be careful about getting vaccinated?
These are people with weak immunity. It’s not just that you feel tired and without energy regularly, but if you are taking immunosuppressants or if an expert has diagnosed you with a weakened immune system and you are also on treatment, you need to be careful. Of course, there are vaccines that they can receive too. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines are killed vaccines that are safe even for people undergoing chemotherapy. However, if you are being treated for an illness, we advise you not to make personal decisions about administering the vaccination and to always consult a specialist.
Can’t the side effects of vaccines also be overlooked?
Initially everyone was afraid of the vaccine against the COVID-19 virus and there were cases of suspected side effects. However, vaccines are also drugs, and among those classified as drugs, few drugs are as safe as vaccines. When someone develops a vaccine, it undergoes clinical trials on at least tens of thousands of people to confirm the reduction of infectious diseases. We also monitor the incidence of side effects very rigorously. In the case of the COVID-19 virus vaccine, which many people have been experimenting with, hundreds of millions of people have been vaccinated in a short period of 2 to 3 years, and countless people, from researchers to the general public, have watched closely to find any side effects. However, until recently, there had been no reported cases of major side effects from the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in use. If you are concerned about side effects or safety, think of it as your body overreacting after eating inappropriate food or medicine. In short, you can rest assured.
Where can I find information about adult vaccinations?
There is a page called “Vaccination Assistant” on the website of the Korea Agency for Disease Control and Prevention. There you can check required vaccinations for everyone from newborns to adults, as well as check and manage your vaccination history. You can also find information on designated medical institutions by region. If you are curious about vaccinations before planning a trip abroad, you can visit the “Infectious Diseases Abroad Now” page on the Korea Agency for Disease Control and Prevention website. You can take a look at the countries you plan to visit and the things to keep in mind while visiting. For reference, when traveling abroad, it is recommended to get vaccinated at least two months before departure.
Finally <우먼센스> Please give some advice to your readers.
From a personal point of view, it is recommended to get vaccinated for your health and, in the case of some vaccines against infectious diseases, to weaken symptoms and reduce transmission. If someone in your family has a very weak immune system, they cannot receive the vaccine. But I can protect my family by being right. That’s why I want you to know that vaccines are essential medicines that protect us and everyone around us. There are still many people who have vague fears about vaccines, but there is no drug that is given to healthy people and has fewer side effects than vaccines. Only vaccines certified as safe and effective can be distributed on the market, so make sure you get vaccinated for the health of yourself and those around you.
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2024-01-19 00:00:57
#Vaccination #adults #mandatory #recommended