Disease Prevention: Vaccines
Learn from the Past, Prepare for the future
Vaccines: History and Invention
Before modern medicine, there were many methods used in the healing process. In medieval times, those methods ranged from herbal remedies to letting blood out. Medical procedures were not done by professionals in medicine; they used astrological symbols to determine treatment. While that was more common, some were trying to use more accurate methods using the actual disease. The process was disturbing for some at the time, crushing infected scabs and using cowpox lymphs. A Buddhist nun crushed smallpox scabs from an infected person and made a powdery substance. She then blew the powder into the nostrils and was immune to the smallpox later on. It was used continuously along with other methods until the 1700s, reducing smallpox deaths 10-fold ("Epidemics of the Past: Smallpox"). Edward Jenner’s vaccine, which was a blade coated with the lymph’s of an infected cow, was a new view into treatment, using another disease to prevent an even deadlier one. The method was controversial and people did not react kindly when the government began to enforce policies for mandatory vaccinations. The steps to prevent widespread disease took long, long years until success, and today what took hundreds and even thousands of years are now done in decades ("History of Anti-vaccination Movements").
Significance of Vaccines on Diseases
The Public Health Clinic informs individuals about the process of manufacturing vaccines and how the body immunizes to a vaccine.
California has 37,253,956 inhabitants making in the most populated state in the United States of America. Los Angeles alone, has a population of 3,792, 621 making it the second most populated city in the United States and the most populated city in California. Due to its high population, diseases can easily spread through the air, food, or physical contact. In 2003, 2,419 individuals in Los Angeles County died of pneumonia and influenza. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites that can be found in the environment. Influenza is a contagious virus that spreads throughout the population through the air. Pneumonia and influenza are just two out of many diseases that can now easily be prevented through the use of vaccines ("Influenza and Pneumonia"). Vaccinations are vital to our society because through immunization we can help to protect those who cannot protect themselves and could potentially prevent a infectious disease outbreak. Los Angeles offers promoting programs that serve the community and the administration of services these services include free or low-cost immunization clinics (Los Angeles Department of Public Health).
California has 37,253,956 inhabitants making in the most populated state in the United States of America. Los Angeles alone, has a population of 3,792, 621 making it the second most populated city in the United States and the most populated city in California. Due to its high population, diseases can easily spread through the air, food, or physical contact. In 2003, 2,419 individuals in Los Angeles County died of pneumonia and influenza. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites that can be found in the environment. Influenza is a contagious virus that spreads throughout the population through the air. Pneumonia and influenza are just two out of many diseases that can now easily be prevented through the use of vaccines ("Influenza and Pneumonia"). Vaccinations are vital to our society because through immunization we can help to protect those who cannot protect themselves and could potentially prevent a infectious disease outbreak. Los Angeles offers promoting programs that serve the community and the administration of services these services include free or low-cost immunization clinics (Los Angeles Department of Public Health).
