Research Paper 2

Running head: ROLE OF VACCINES 1
Role of Vaccines in Improving Health and Overall Welfare
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ROLE OF VACCINES 2
Vaccines are medications that offer actively acquired immunity against diseases.
Preparation of vaccines involves the use of agents resembling the micro-organisms that cause the
particular disease. When these agents are injected into the body, the body reacts against them,
and the immune system destroys them (Plotkin, Orenstein & Offit, 2013). Consequently, these
symptoms are easily recognizable by the immune system in the future, and can easily be
neutralized. Many children are vaccinated against diseases such as polio, tetanus, tuberculosis
and measles. As such, vaccines provide an effective means of improving the health and overall
welfare of the population.
Throughout the world, medical costs are on the rise. In cases of ailments such as
tuberculosis and measles, the costs of treatment are very high. To ensure successful treatment,
patients have to undergo several medication therapies that involve costly drugs. Additionally,
patients have to be held in confinement to prevent the spread of such diseases. A quick
evaluation of these costs indicates that vaccines present a cheaper alternative in regards to
handling these ailments (Ozawa, Mirelman & Stack, 2012). When people are vaccinated early,
there are limited chances that they will get infected with these diseases. As such, there are overall
savings in regards to the costs that could have been used to treat infected persons. All this leads
to a general improvement of health in the long run and the overall welfare of the entire
population.
Significant economic progress is evident in countries that have emphasized the usage of
vaccines. Some of these countries include India, Brazil, South Africa and China. These countries
have a population of children that exceeds 230 million below the age of five; the vaccines have
therefore greatly reduced the child mortality rate (Stack, Ozawa & Bishai, 2011). This ensures
that more children survive to adulthood and can positively contribute to the economy. As such,
ROLE OF VACCINES 3
the capacity of these countries to produce goods and engage in productive economic activities
has greatly increased. Based on these efforts, China is currently the fastest growing economy in
the world. Similarly, India, Brazil and South Africa have made significant progress in their
respective economies. Estimated economics benefits in India is $9.1 billion, $400 million for
South Africa, $5.8 billion for China and $18 million in Brazil (Stack, Ozawa & Bishai, 2011).
One of the factors attributed to the rapid growth of the Asian economies between 1965 and 1990
is attributed to the reduction in child mortality rate in the region.
Further research shows the impact of active immunization exercises in some of the
world’s poorest countries. If immunization is provided for rotavirus, pneumococcal and Hib
diseases in the world’s 70 poorest countries, the productivity and treatment savings would
amount to over $63 billion (Ozawa, Mirelman & Stack, 2012). Within these countries, more than
3.5 million citizens die from diseases that are preventable; resulting in significant loss to these
countries. To facilitate these benefits, the Global Vaccine Action Plan was formed, with a ten-
year timeline a maximum number of people have access to vaccines.
In conclusion, usage of vaccines has several benefits, both for the individual and the
economy of various countries. An individual averts future healthcare costs and becomes
productive economically. Considering the large number of people who receive these vaccines,
the result is a positive impact on the entire economy due to increased productivity.
ROLE OF VACCINES 4
References
Ozawa, S., Mirelman, A., & Stack, M. (2012). Cost-effectiveness and economic benefits of
vaccines in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Vaccine, 31(1),
Pages 96–108-Pages 96–108. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.10.103
Plotkin, S. A., Orenstein, W. A., & Offit, P. A. (2013). Vaccines. Edinburgh: Elsevier/Saunders.
Stack, M., Ozawa, S., & Bishai, D. (2011). Estimated Economic Benefits During The ‘Decade
Of Vaccines’ Include Treatment Savings, Gains In Labor Productivity. Health Affairs,
30(6), 1021-1028. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0382

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Running head: ROLE OF VACCINES 1

Role of Vaccines in Improving Health and Overall Welfare

welfare of the population.

is attributed to the reduction in child mortality rate in the region.

year timeline a maximum number of people have access to vaccines.

vaccines in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Vaccine, 31(1),

Pages 96–108-Pages 96–108. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.10.103

Of Vaccines’ Include Treatment Savings, Gains In Labor Productivity. Health Affairs,

30(6), 1021-1028. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0382

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