The concept of vicarious learning is well known in the field of psychology. It suggests that a person can learn or unlearn a behavior just by observing the outcomes of that behavior, from someone else. That sets a good ground for the concern that would be discussed here today. We will discuss how vaccinating your child - especially when you have access to it can play a role in protecting those who do not have accessibility to these life-saving vaccines. Vaccination is a basic medical amenity, but is still a privilege for many in emerging economies.
Vaccination has shown a significant amount of reduction in many life-threatening diseases in the past few years. It is a way of making the body immune to diseases, by injecting weakened antigens (germs) of a disease such as measles or smallpox into the body. To its reaction, the body produces antibodies (protein) to fight these germs. It is a way of preparing the body to provide immunity from a disease. Moreover, vaccination is seen not only as a way of curing a disease for the one who gets vaccinated, but also for others around you, who unfortunately cannot afford this treatment with the help of Herd Immunity.
WHO published a report based on the Global Health Observatory (GHO) data in the year 2016, which stated that 5.6 million children died under the age of 5. The same sources have also reported that diarrhea is one of the most significant causes of death, along with other diseases such as malaria, measles and a few others1,2.
In a report by Global Disease Burden, 2016, it was revealed that India alone registered deaths of 0.9 million children under the age of 5. What is more shocking is that it is the highest number globally, even more than the countries ranking below India in poverty rates3.
When a child is vaccinated, it eliminates both the risk of the disease as well as its spread. However, these vaccines are not accessible to a large part of the population, especially in developing countries like India, due to costs and maintenance factors. As a result, parents who have accessibility to these vaccines are advised to get their children vaccinated, as it cuts down on the spread rate of these diseases.
Making this happen does not seem like a distant dream now, with some organizations already working towards it. One such initiative, in this direction, is taken by an India based organization, Hilleman Laboratories. Hilleman has adopted innovative technological modes to create vaccines at much lower prices, with the technique of novel packaging. This way, the cost reduction in manufacturing will also affect the accessibility cost.
