Vaccines Global Summit

HPV, DPT, Polio, and MMR are the most essential vaccines for modern immunization. All these vaccines prevent infections that affect millions of people worldwide as well as children.

The Human Papillomavirus vaccine, or HPV, is designed to protect against infections from the human papillomavirus, of which several types have been strongly linked to the causation of cervical, anal, and throat cancers. Maximization of the benefit from the vaccine is achieved with its administration to preteens before they are exposed to the virus through sexual contact. Since the vaccine was introduced, a significant decrease in cancers and cases of genital warts due to HPV have been witnessed, thereby classifying the vaccine as ""critically necessary"" within any public health strategy to assist in the prevention of cancer.

The DPT vaccine protects the diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. Generally, the combination of this vaccine is offered to infants as well as younger children because of a routine childhood immunization program. Diphtheria and pertussis are two serious bacterial infections that cause severe cases of respiratory illness, whereas tetanus affects the nervous system. These diseases have been reduced significantly with the distribution of the DPT vaccine worldwide and are therefore considered a central component of childhood vaccination programs.

Due to the polio vaccine, a highly contagious and sometimes disabling viral disease that brings paralysis and death has gradually been put on a tight squeeze in global efforts for the elimination of the diseases. There are two polio vaccines namely, Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV), which have been heavily relied upon in the mass immunization campaigns thereby reducing polio cases by more than 99% and bringing the world closer to being polio-free. The fact that polio vaccine continues to be used is necessary to sustain this success and avoid a relapse of the disease.

MMR vaccine: The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine is a combined vaccine given for protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. These viruses caused a problem in children and sometimes very hazardous damage to the brain, deafness, and even miscarriage in pregnant women. Most of these diseases have now been dramatically reduced in most parts of the world, though they still break out whenever there is low vaccination coverage.

Together, the four vaccines mostly HPV, DPT, Polio, and MMR provide the foundation of global immunization, giving excellent protection against some of the deadliest infectious diseases. Continued high vaccine coverage will be critical to maintaining these public health advances and preventing the next outbreaks.