THE IMPORTANCE OF SEASONAL VACCINATIONS: PROTECTING AGAINST YEARLY THREATS

Authors

  • AL Harbi, Aisha Essa Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
  • Al Harthi, Maha Fuhied Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
  • Al Robyan, Abdulrahman Muqaed Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
  • Al Subaie, Nasser Gaid Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
  • Al Qahtani, Turki Abdullah Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
  • Al Daajani, Mohammed Zaid Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53555/eijmhs.v9i1.178

Keywords:

vaccinations, influenza, immune response, immunity, healthcare burden, global health security, education, equitable access, public health, recurring health threats.

Abstract

Vaccinations underscores the indispensable role of annual vaccinations in mitigating the impact of evolving viruses, with a specific focus on influenza and other cyclic health hazards. This article illuminates the adaptable nature of these vaccinations, elucidating their benefits including enhanced immune responses, establishment of community immunity, reduction of healthcare burdens, and reinforcement of global health security. Seasonal vaccinations play a critical role in safeguarding public health by offering targeted immunity against evolving viruses like influenza. This article underscores the importance of yearly vaccinations in mitigating the impact of recurrent health threats. By adapting to the dynamic nature of seasonal pathogens, these vaccinations enhance immune responses, foster community immunity, reduce healthcare burdens, and contribute to global health security. The article emphasizes the need for accurate education and equitable access to vaccines, highlighting their role in countering misinformation and ensuring comprehensive protection. By understanding the benefits of seasonal vaccinations, individuals can make informed choices that collectively strengthen global health defenses.

References

Mishra B, Rath S, Mohanty M, Mohapatra PR. The Threat of Impending Pandemics: A Proactive Approach. Cureus. 2023 Mar 27;15(3):e36723. doi: 10.7759/cureus.36723. PMID: 37123718; PMCID: PMC10130798.

Memoli MJ, Jagger BW, Dugan VG, Qi L, Jackson JP, Taubenberger JK. Recent human influenza A/H3N2 virus evolution driven by novel selection factors in addition to antigenic drift. J Infect Dis. 2009 Oct 15;200(8):1232-41. doi: 10.1086/605893. PMID: 19743921; PMCID: PMC2778484.

Oxford Vaccine Group, The University of Oxford, Herd immunity (Herd protection). March 11, 2022. https://vaccineknowledge.ox.ac.uk/herd-immunity

Gouma S, Anderson EM, Hensley SE. Challenges of Making Effective Influenza Vaccines. Annu Rev Virol. 2020 Sep 29;7(1):495-512. doi: 10.1146/annurev-virology-010320-044746. Epub 2020 May 11. PMID: 32392457; PMCID: PMC7529958.

Greenwood B. The contribution of vaccination to global health: past, present and future. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014 May 12;369(1645):20130433. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0433. PMID: 24821919; PMCID: PMC4024226.

Garett R, Young SD. Online misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Transl Behav Med. 2021 Dec 14;11(12):2194-2199. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibab128. PMID: 34529080; PMCID: PMC8515268.

Houser K, Subbarao K. Influenza vaccines: challenges and solutions. Cell Host Microbe. 2015 Mar 11;17(3):295-300. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.02.012. PMID: 25766291; PMCID: PMC4362519.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. November 3, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-selection.htm

Taubenberger JK, Kash JC. Influenza virus evolution, host adaptation, and pandemic formation. Cell Host Microbe. 2010 Jun 25;7(6):440-51. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2010.05.009. PMID: 20542248; PMCID: PMC2892379.

Abdelrahman Z, Li M, Wang X. Comparative Review of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and Influenza A Respiratory Viruses. Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 11;11:552909. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.552909. PMID: 33013925; PMCID: PMC7516028.

Lowen AC, Steel J. Roles of humidity and temperature in shaping influenza seasonality. J Virol. 2014 Jul;88(14):7692-5. doi: 10.1128/JVI.03544-13. Epub 2014 Apr 30. PMID: 24789791; PMCID: PMC4097773.

Kronfeld-Schor N, Stevenson TJ, Nickbakhsh S, Schernhammer ES, Dopico XC, Dayan T, Martinez M, Helm B. Drivers of Infectious Disease Seasonality: Potential Implications for COVID-19. J Biol Rhythms. 2021 Feb;36(1):35-54. doi: 10.1177/0748730420987322. Epub 2021 Jan 24. PMID: 33491541; PMCID: PMC7924107.

Trovato M, Sartorius R, D'Apice L, Manco R, De Berardinis P. Viral Emerging Diseases: Challenges in Developing Vaccination Strategies. Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 3;11:2130. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02130. PMID: 33013898; PMCID: PMC7494754.

Wiggins KB, Smith MA, Schultz-Cherry S. The Nature of Immune Responses to Influenza Vaccination in High-Risk Populations. Viruses. 2021 Jun 9;13(6):1109. doi: 10.3390/v13061109. PMID: 34207924; PMCID: PMC8228336.

Harding AT, Heaton NS. Efforts to Improve the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel). 2018 Mar 30;6(2):19. doi: 10.3390/vaccines6020019. PMID: 29601497; PMCID: PMC6027170.

Godoy P, Romero A, Soldevila N, Torner N, Jané M, Martínez A, Caylà JA, Rius C, Domínguez A; Working Group on Surveillance of Severe Influenza Hospitalized Cases in Catalonia. Influenza vaccine effectiveness in reducing severe outcomes over six influenza seasons, a case-case analysis, Spain, 2010/11 to 2015/16. Euro Surveill. 2018 Oct;23(43):1700732. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.43.1700732. PMID: 30376915; PMCID: PMC6208006.

Moore S, Hill EM, Tildesley MJ, Dyson L, Keeling MJ. Vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19: a mathematical modelling study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 Jun;21(6):793-802. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00143-2. Epub 2021 Mar 18. PMID: 33743847; PMCID: PMC7972312.

Coccia M. Optimal levels of vaccination to reduce COVID-19 infected individuals and deaths: A global analysis. Environ Res. 2022 Mar;204(Pt C):112314. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112314. Epub 2021 Nov 2. PMID: 34736923; PMCID: PMC8560189.

Quilici S, Smith R, Signorelli C. Role of vaccination in economic growth. J Mark Access Health Policy. 2015 Aug 12;3. doi: 10.3402/jmahp.v3.27044. PMID: 27123174; PMCID: PMC4802686.

Burrell CJ, Howard CR, Murphy FA. Emerging Virus Diseases. Fenner and White's Medical Virology. 2017:217–25. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-375156-0.00015-1. Epub 2016 Nov 11. PMCID: PMC7150244.

Rasmussen AL. Vaccination Is the Only Acceptable Path to Herd Immunity. Med. 2020 Dec 18;1(1):21-23. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2020.12.004. PMID: 33521750; PMCID: PMC7831753.

Zimmerman T, Shiroma K, Fleischmann KR, Xie B, Jia C, Verma N, Lee MK. Misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine. 2023 Jan 4;41(1):136-144. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.11.014. Epub 2022 Nov 14. PMID: 36411132; PMCID: PMC9659512.

Anderson EL. Recommended solutions to the barriers to immunization in children and adults. Mo Med. 2014 Jul-Aug;111(4):344-8. PMID: 25211867; PMCID: PMC6179470.

Anas AL, Salifu M, Zakaria HL. COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination Skepticism. Hu Arenas. 2023 Apr 26:1–25. doi: 10.1007/s42087-023-00334-w. Epub ahead of print. PMCID: PMC10130805.

Palmer RD. Covid 19 vaccines and the misinterpretation of perceived side effects clarity on the safety of vaccines. Biomedicine (Taipei). 2022 Sep 1;12(3):1-4. doi: 10.37796/2211-8039.1371. PMID: 36381188; PMCID: PMC9629406.

Chirico F, Teixeira da Silva JA. Evidence-based policies in public health to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Future Virol. 2023 Mar:10.2217/fvl-2022-0028. doi: 10.2217/fvl-2022-0028. Epub 2023 Apr 4. PMID: 37034451; PMCID: PMC10079004.

Rodrigues CMC, Plotkin SA. Impact of Vaccines; Health, Economic and Social Perspectives. Front Microbiol. 2020 Jul 14;11:1526. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01526. PMID: 32760367; PMCID: PMC7371956.

Bhatt J, Bathija P. Ensuring Access to Quality Health Care in Vulnerable Communities. Acad Med. 2018 Sep;93(9):1271-1275. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000002254. PMID: 29697433; PMCID: PMC6112847.

Downloads

Published

2023-02-04