Immunization is a process by which a person is made resistant to a disease by introducing a vaccine that contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to recognize the agent as foreign, destroy it, and “remember” it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.
The primary advantage of immunization is that it helps to protect people from many different types of infections and diseases. Immunizations can help protect individuals from serious illnesses, such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and others. Vaccines have drastically reduced the number of cases and deaths from these illnesses and have greatly improved public health.
Another advantage of immunization is that it can help reduce the spread of contagious diseases. When a population is immunized against a certain disease, it helps prevent the spread of that disease to those who are not immunized. This can help protect those who are not able to receive vaccines, such as young children and those with weakened immune systems.
The primary disadvantage of immunization is that it is not 100% effective. Despite immunizations, some people may still contract the disease or illness they are being immunized against. In addition, some people may experience side effects from the vaccine, such as a fever or soreness. These side effects are usually mild and temporary, but can be uncomfortable.
Another disadvantage of immunization is that it can be costly. Vaccines are expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Additionally, some vaccine schedules require multiple doses of a particular vaccine, which can be costly and time consuming.
Overall, immunization has many advantages and a few disadvantages. While it is not 100% effective, it is still a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases, and has helped to dramatically reduce the number of cases and deaths from these illnesses.