Anti-vaccination is causing some diseases to spread again!

Pointing out that anti-vaccination trend has started to increase in recent years, experts say that this situation leads to a decrease in vaccination rates among populations, creating difficulties in controlling infectious diseases.

Stating that vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children from diseases, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin expressed that "Vaccines teach your immune system how to produce antibodies that protect you from diseases and prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year." Pointing out that vaccines do not weaken the immune system or cause autism contrary to anti-vaccine rumors, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin warned that if people stop getting vaccinated, it is possible for infectious diseases to spread rapidly again.

Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine (English) Department of Medical Biochemistry Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin informed about the importance of vaccination and anti-vaccination.

Beware of anti-vaccine stories!

Stating that despite the successful vaccine history around the world, many political parties and religious groups have joined the anti-vaccine movement, questioning the scientific reliability of vaccines and criticizing their origins, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin expressed that "Anti-vaccine stories are usually spread online and offline through social media. While the Internet produces stories based on conspiracy theories, it also invites the fight against 'forced government drugs and compulsory medical processes.'"

Pointing out that vaccine and health information MUST always be obtained from reliable sources such as the National Ministry of Health Vaccine Portal or the World Health Organization (WHO), Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin Stated that "Vaccination information on social media may not be based on scientific evidence and may put your child at risk of serious illness. "All the available evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated."

Vaccines do not cause autism!

Referring to what vaccines do and do not do, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin made the following remarks:

"Vaccines help protect you and your child from many serious and potentially fatal diseases. It protects other people in your family and community. It helps stop the spread of diseases to people who cannot be vaccinated, such as babies who are too young to be vaccinated and those who are too sick to be vaccinated. It undergoes rigorous safety testing before it is introduced, and it is also constantly monitored for side effects after it is introduced. Sometimes it can cause mild side effects that will not last long, making you feel a little sick and causing pain in your arm for 2 or 3 days. If enough people are vaccinated, it can reduce or even eliminate some diseases."

On the other hand, underlining that vaccines will not overload or weaken the immune system, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin stated that "It is safe to give children and adults several vaccines at the same time, and this reduces the amount of injections required. Vaccines do not contain mercury (thiomersal) or any harmful components. It contains ingredients that are essential to make it safer and more effective. It does not cause autism. Studies have found no evidence of a link between measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines and autism."

"Vaccines prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year"

Reminding that vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children from diseases, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin stated that "It prevents millions of deaths worldwide every year. Diseases such as smallpox, polio and tetanus, which have killed or maimed millions of people with the vaccines administered since they were introduced, have either disappeared or are now very rare. Other diseases, such as measles and diphtheria, have dropped to a very low number of cases each year since vaccines were introduced. However, if people stop getting vaccinated, it is possible for infectious diseases to spread again quickly.”

"If less than 90 percent of people are vaccinated, diseases can quickly spread again"

Pointing out that although the MMR vaccine is the best protection against measles and mumps diseases, these diseases have started to be seen again in the world, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that "This is a serious condition because it can lead to life-threatening complications such as measles and meningitis, and mumps can also cause hearing loss." said.

Stating that if 95 percent of children are vaccinated against MMR, the spread of measles will be completely stopped, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that "However, if less than 90 percent of people are vaccinated, measles, mumps and rubella can spread again quickly. Everyone should keep their vaccination schedules up to date to ensure the best protection."

Vaccines train the immune system...

Referring to how vaccines work, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin continued her remarks as follows:

"Vaccines teach your immune system how to produce antibodies that protect you from disease. It is much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than it is to catch and treat diseases. Once your immune system learns how to fight a disease, it can often provide you with lifelong protection. Getting vaccinated also benefits the entire community through 'herd immunity'. If enough people are vaccinated, it is more difficult for the disease to spread to people who are not vaccinated."

"Anti-vaccine movements are on the rise around the world"

Emphasizing that despite the fact that vaccines are one of the most successful public interventions of all time, some parents continue to be concerned about vaccine safety, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin stated that “Providing parents with reliable, evidence-based information about vaccines is an important component of vaccine risk communication."

Referring to the new research published in the past decade, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin made the following remarks:

"Research suggests that anti-vaccination trend has increased in recent years around the world, even among health workers. Anti-vaccination contributes significantly to declining vaccination rates among populations and poses a significant challenge to public health in terms of controlling infectious diseases and preventing pandemics. In fact, a group that opposes vaccine requirements can pose a serious threat environment, leading to a national decline in child vaccination rates and the re-emergence of preventable deadly diseases.

Anti-vaccine policies that endanger people's lives have become the discourse of this group. They are acting as part of this response to pandemic restrictions and the spread of misinformation about the safety of vaccines introduced to combat coronavirus. Prior to 2020, medical mandates primarily affected school-age children, college students, and healthcare workers. However, after 2020, obligations began to affect everyone in one way or another. Vaccination measures such as different types of influenza and whooping cough have become important, especially for the elderly."

Will the wrong policy defeat medicine?

Pointing out that some countries or states are trying to prepare bills that will limit vaccine access and encourage vaccine exemptions in schools and workplaces, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that "They are trying to eliminate public health obligations regarding mask-wearing and vaccines. Childhood vaccination rates continue to fall while the 'Medical freedom' movement, which advocates that everyone should have the opportunity to make their own health decisions, take responsibility and bear the consequences, is gaining strength. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the proportion of kindergarten students in America who have been discouraged from getting vaccinated by their parents has reached a new peak of 3 percent in the 2022-2023 school year, worrying public health experts. Increased anti-vaccination trend has unfortunately led to measles outbreaks in communities with low vaccination rates last year."

"The extent of the danger posed by the distortion of vaccine science is very frightening"

Stating that the unfounded allegations are carried out as 'the deliberate spread of health disinformation', Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that the dimensions of the danger that this distortion of vaccine science can create are very frightening.

Pointing out that the most prominent factors related to anti-vaccination are structural, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin explained the reasons for anti-vaccination as follows: " Reasons that can lead to anti-vaccine initiatives are as follows: health and socioeconomic inequalities and injustices, lack of effective public health messages, unethical research involving ethnic minority groups and structural racism, social disadvantages, i.e. lower levels of education and lack of access to high-quality, accurate information, misinformation through online platforms, disinformation, the spread of conspiracy theories and rumors, socioeconomic inequalities, and barriers to access, such as vaccine delivery time, location, and cost."

Anti-vaccination has increased polio cases in Nigeria!

Emphasizing that anti-vaccination directly affects the success and effectiveness of immunization programs, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin stated that "It is known that anti-vaccination harms the demand for vaccines, which prevents the scope of vaccination and controlling epidemics.”

Underlining that anti-vaccination poses a danger to individuals, their dependents and the whole society, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin concluded her remarks as follows: "It is possible to predict where we will be as a world, especially if these discourses are applied to polio or measles. For example, polio cases in Nigeria increased fivefold between 2002 and 2006. This was due to the boycott of the polio vaccine due to rumors and distrust of the government."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)