By Dr. Yolanda Yoder, SICHC Chief Medical Officer
Can you name a highly contagious virus with no known cure that spawned epidemics and killed multiple millions of people? We don’t think about it much today, but the now-eradicated threat from the deadly smallpox virus once wreaked havoc upon numerous millions of people, leaving a trail of death, disfigurement, and blindness across the globe.
Despite its fearsome reputation, smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1980. How did that come about?
No known cure
While there is still no known cure for smallpox, a highly effective vaccine was developed and administered around the world. The ancient plague was stopped in its tracks. The same is true of polio, once a feared incurable childhood disease that can lead to irreversible paralysis. Only a few cases of polio are reported worldwide each year, due to effective vaccines and public health campaigns.
These critical advancements demonstrate the importance of timely vaccinations for both personal and community reasons. Being vaccinated in an appropriate way can help protect both you and your family, including friends and community members.
Why is this important? In addition to protecting you personally, effective vaccines help limit the spread of a disease to those who are more vulnerable. These include infants, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems.
Today, the flu season is upon us. We also see patients with pneumonia, RSV, and shingles who could have benefited from a timely vaccine. And as you can see in the news, a new XEC variant of Covid-19 has appeared, which could elevate new infection rates as we approach winter, the time when COVID-19 infections and related hospitalizations tend to peak.
The point? Effective vaccines – including a new updated COVID-19 vaccine – are now available for the flu, pneumonia, RSV and COVID-19. They help boost and train your immune system to effectively fight such diseases.
Elevating health, saving lives
Considering whether to get vaccinated? Here’s an important fact: many vaccine-preventable diseases – like pneumonia, RSV and even the flu – can quickly lead to both severe medical complications and longer-term health issues.
Complications from an ordinary flu infection can lead to complicated respiratory problems that can be difficult to treat. If you delay a measles vaccine and come down with the disease, that infection can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and even prove deadly.
Being properly vaccinated can greatly reduce the potential for more challenging issues. Your medical provider can answer any questions that you may have (such as whether you should be vaccinated if you’re pregnant) and can make informed recommendations.
As a long-time physician working in southern Indiana, I – like many other providers – know from experience that vaccines offer an effective and cost-effective way to both prevent disease and promote health. Vaccines represent a critical aspect of strong public health. They are called a cornerstone of public health for good reason. Compared to the cost of treating a disease (especially in an advanced state) the cost of a vaccine is much lower.
Vaccine hesitancy
During the COVID-19 crisis, a considerable amount of distrust arose from misinformation, especially on social media and certain podcasts. That situation unfortunately led to some hesitating to receive vaccinations, which has the opposite effect of increasing the possibility of higher rates of infection and loss of protection.
As noted at the beginning of this column, vaccines for smallpox and other viruses have caused these incurable and often deadly diseases to basically vanish. They have high value. We recognize that in some cases not all vaccines are necessarily 100% effective, but we also recognize from experience that the benefits of making an informed decision and getting properly vaccinated can literally save a life.
Want to promote good health? Talk to your provider today about vaccine options.
Board certified in family medicine, Yolanda Yoder, M.D. has served patients and families at Southern Indiana Community Health Care for more than 30 years.
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