The earliest hints of vaccine practice come from the Chinese via the practice of inoculation for smallpox in the 10th century. A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing micro-organism made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe. Once injected into the person's body, the person's immune system will recognize it as a threat and destroy it, while keeping a record of it so it will destroy any similar micro-organisms later encountered.
Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infectious diseases. Immunity due to vaccination is responsible for the worldwide eradication of smallpox and the restriction of other diseases such as tetanus, measles, and polio from most of the world. Needless to say, vaccines have saved millions of human lives throughout our history.
The reason I believe vaccines are the most important invention in human history, is because it could have saved our species from extinction. The thing that separates humans from other animals is our intelligence--and as a species, we have been able to develop a "pre-cure" for diseases. I think that's pretty amazing.
In today's world, it's easy to dismiss vaccines as incredibly important and revolutionary, but that's because it has become so engrained in our society because of its importance. For example, we are required to get certain vaccinations at birth, for school, and for work. If somebody does not get a vaccine, they are putting others at harm's way because they can spread disease if not vaccinated.
Before vaccines, death by disease was not uncommon. People knew that there was a high chance they could die prematurely due to disease or infection. Sanitary conditions back then were also not great, which only magnified the terrible consequences of disease spreading around. Now, thanks to vaccines, sanitation, and technology, I can live my life without worrying about dying of smallpox and other eradicated diseases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCHcTfph8-Q
I find it fascinating that another student in the class values the development of vaccines, as much as I did! I enjoyed reading the detailed description you had written. I would like to add how vaccines are well correlated with public health. Which, in return influences longevity and life-span for the overall population. Hence, this allows more people to live healthy lives for a longer period of time because their risk of infection decreases.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read. Thanks for the share. Have a nice day
ReplyDeleteAlthough I didn't have vaccines as my most important invention, it does make sense that they would be. It does seem entirely possible that humans would be wiped out from these diseases and without us there wouldn't be anymore inventions. This was a good read.
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