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Immunizations: Protecting Our Past, Present, and Future

By Lexxus B

Immunizations: a word that can set off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Immunizations have been stirring up debates about their necessity and effectiveness for centuries. If history has taught us anything, it’s that immunizations play a vital role in keeping us healthy and are one of the most critical concepts of public health.

Most likely, we’ve all been in those conversations: “I refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” “I don’t want to vaccinate my child,” or my personal favorite, “My kid doesn’t need the HPV vaccine; they’re not sexually active.” As a public health professional, I’ve heard these lines more times than I can count. Providers echo the same sentiments as they’ve had their fair share of pushback on immunization. In my early public health days, I heard these excuses firsthand while trying to educate folks about the importance of immunizations, especially for kiddos. Despite our best efforts, immunizations remain a hot topic, setting us back as a nation in achieving optimal health outcomes.

A Look Back: Smallpox Outbreaks

Before we had the COVID-19 pandemic to keep us on our toes, our ancestors were dealing with deadly outbreaks like smallpox. Smallpox was like that uninvited party guest who just wouldn’t leave. Caused by the variola virus, it spread like wildfire. Those infected had fevers and a distinctive, progressive skin rash. Most people with smallpox recovered, but about three out of every 10 did not. Survivors often sported permanent scars, and some were left blind.

The outbreaks in 1721, 1752, 1764, and 1775 were downright terrifying, with death rates high enough to give anyone goosebumps. In 1721, almost 15% of smallpox sufferers in Boston didn’t make it. Out of roughly 11,000 Bostonians, a staggering 842, nearly 8%, perished. It might sound like ancient history, but the fear and precautions they took back then were similar to what we went through during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Historical Precautions and Their Modern Parallels

Even the one and only Harvard University was impacted and had to pause classes. Many folks hightailed it to the countryside, and Paul Revere himself went into quarantine when one of his kids got infected. Families with infected members had to hang a red cloth on a six-foot pole, signaling the danger. This was the 18th-century version of a “quarantine in progress” sign. Without immunizations, we’d still be waving those red flags.

Fast forward to 2015, and I was sitting in an epidemiology lecture at The Ohio State University, learning about Edward Jenner, the founder of the smallpox vaccine. For those who don’t know, epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and how we can stop them in their tracks. Some people mix it up with entomology, the study of insects. While they might sound similar, they’re quite different, though both fields can intersect, such as with the Zika virus—another story for a different day.

My professor captivated us with Jenner’s pioneering work to end smallpox. In 1796, Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox were immune to smallpox. Jenner took material from a cowpox sore on milkmaid Sarah Nelmes’ hand and inoculated it into the arm of James Phipps, his gardener’s 8-year-old son. And just like that, the foundation for modern vaccination was laid.

Vaccine Heroes

Smallpox was a nightmare for centuries, but it’s now eradicated, thanks to Jenner. During my mid-term exam, we were tested on Jenner’s significance and the impact of his groundbreaking vaccine. The course also spotlighted other vaccine heroes, like Louis Pasteur, who developed a vaccine against rabies; Pearl Kendrick, who tackled whooping cough; Robert Purcell, Albert Kapikian, and Stephen Feinstone, who developed the first hepatitis A vaccine and discovered hepatitis C; and Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, who contributed to the polio vaccine. Imagine all the severe diseases we’d face without these vaccines.

Herd Immunity and Awareness

So, why are immunizations crucial? It’s all about herd immunity. Herd immunity happens when a large portion of the population becomes immune to a disease. When enough people are resistant, the disease struggles to spread. Even if not everyone is immune, the whole community gets protection. This leads to fewer infections and eventually causes the disease to fade away. This concept is essential for school-aged children, especially those starting kindergarten. Schools usually require immunization records to protect all kids. Imagine if one child came to school with chickenpox—yikes! However, with two doses of the varicella vaccine, which protects against chickenpox, if all the other kids are vaccinated, they collectively illustrate herd immunity.

I know talking about immunizations can feel like walking on eggshells, especially when trying to convince someone of their importance. Hopefully, the chickenpox example will help put herd immunity into perspective as the concept can apply to other immunizations. Plus, immunizations even get an awareness month, highlighting their importance even more! August is National Immunization Awareness Month. It aims to raise awareness about why vaccines are essential for people of all ages and how they can help prevent serious, sometimes deadly, diseases and illnesses. With school quickly approaching, it’s time to check immunization records, especially for young kiddos.

Taking Action

So, let’s get real—sharing accurate information from top-notch sources is necessary! While I hope you find this blog post full of insights, remember, I’m Lexxus—a public health professional, but not an expert on this topic as I am not an immunologist or epidemiologist. But don’t worry! The links I’ve shared are from solid sources you can trust and pass along to anyone eager to join the immunization movement. This month, why not spark at least one conversation about immunizations? Chat with that friend you’ve been nudging towards the COVID-19 vaccine, bring it up with your provider at your annual check-up, or give a shoutout to our public health heroes for their tireless work in developing vaccines that keep us safe. Let’s keep the conversation going!