Immunization—ensuring a healthy foundation

Vaccination saves millions of lives every year around the world. It is recognized as one of the most effective proactive mechanisms of healthcare, given its power to strengthen the immune system and protect against serious diseases that can potentially cause significant health issues, disabilities, or even death.

Initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Immunization Week is celebrated annually during the last week of April to highlight the collective action needed to protect people of all ages from vaccine-preventable diseases. The 2024 theme, ‘Humanly Possible,’ celebrates 50 years of WHO’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which ensures equitable access to life-saving vaccines for every child, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status.

Today, every country in the world has established a national immunization program, which has proven to be one of the most successful and cost-effective mechanisms for tackling vaccine-preventable diseases and facilitating the community’s overall wellbeing.

The State of Qatar has an advanced child immunization program in place, where vaccines are offered at different stages of childhood and administered within a specific period to ensure effectiveness in combating a disease. Furthermore, the vaccination schedule is frequently reviewed and adjusted in accordance with the evolving local and international health environment and the importance of ensuring disease prevention.  

Commenting on the importance of immunization, Dr. Amal Khidir, associate professor of paediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), said: “It is our duty and responsibility as physicians to proactively ensure that our patients are protected as much as possible from disease. One important simple process is to ensure that every child or adolescent’s vaccination record is current and adheres to the national immunization schedule. As healthcare providers and stakeholders, we have to invest in health promotion and support the wellbeing of the community by controlling preventable diseases.”

Currently, 12 vaccines form part of Qatar’s national program for basic vaccinations, offering children immunity against 14 diseases—Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough, Paralysis, Haemophilus influenzae (hemorrhagic influenza B), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Pneumonia, Rotavirus, and Chickenpox.

Additionally, several other optional vaccines are available, such as seasonal influenza vaccines or vaccines recommended for people at high risk of certain conditions or for travelers to specific destinations.

Dr. Laith Jamal Abu-Raddad, professor of population health sciences, associate dean for extramural research funding, and director of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Biomathematics Research Core at WCM-Q, said: “The history of medicine extends over thousands of years, yet no intervention has matched the profound impact of vaccination in saving lives and mitigating disease. Thanks to the advent of widespread vaccination programs, global life expectancy has more than doubled within the span of a single century.”

Immunization is key to managing and preventing severe infectious diseases as well as facilitating and promoting the health and wellbeing of young and old individuals and those at higher risk.