Why vaccination is necessary ?

The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned for the world's health and always put emphasis on the availability and supply of clean drinking water and immunization or vaccination. The word vaccine is of Latin origin. The word vacca in Latin means cow. The word vaccine was coined from vacca because Edward Jenner first used fluid from the cowpox to prevent smallpox. Though the word vaccination and immunization are interchangeable but don't mean exactly the same. The administration of vaccines could be called vaccination but the immunization is the induction or acquiring of immunity by using pharmacological agents other than vaccines too. Immunization may be active (production of antibodies after administration of antigen or vaccine) or passive (administration of readymade/preformed antibodies). Vaccination is the active immunization. Vaccination may not provide active immunity to all the individuals. Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) launched by WHO in 1985, free vaccination is available for tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles. The vaccines for these six vaccine-preventable diseases should be administered as per WHO schedule for UIP. The vaccination is necessary for healthy human race all over the world. By timely vaccination we can save our younger generations from major disabling and fatal diseases. Vaccines are considered safe when the side-effects of use are judged to be acceptable in relation to the benefits.