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| Officials from Health Authorities and Bungaeman (Lightning Man), ambbadador of honor for a vaccination campaign run by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wave flags at an organized event in a cultural center in Sejong, Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Bahk Eun-ji
Vaccines are the most important shield to protect people from dangerous diseases. Although vaccination saves many lives, especially those of children, nearly 20 million young people in the world remain unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, according to UNICEF data.
On the occasion of World Health Organization (WHO) World Vaccination Week in the last week of April, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Illnesses organized a vaccination campaign, appointing Bungaeman (Lightning Man), popular character on children's television, honorary ambbadador to promote the protests.
The eight diseases for which the authorities strongly recommend everyone to be vaccinated.
Mumps and varicose veinslla (chicken pox)
Mumps and chickenpox spread rapidly, especially among children, in March, at the beginning of the new semester. Mumps, also known as epidemic parotitis caused by the mumps virus, is transmitted by respiratory droplets or by direct contact with an infected person. The first symptoms often include fever, muscle aches and headaches, usually followed by painful swelling of one or both parotid salivary glands.
Two doses of vaccine are needed for long-term prevention; the first is recommended between 12 and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years.
Chickenpox, which is highly contagious, also called chicken pox, is caused by varicella zoster virus. The disease usually results in a characteristic rash that forms small, itchy blisters on the chest, back, and face, and spreads to the rest of the body. Fever, fatigue and headaches are the symptoms.
Children aged 12 to 15 months should receive a varicella vaccine and persons over 13 who have never been vaccinated before should receive two vaccines at least four weeks apart.
Measles
Although measles immunization rates are high in the country, a single case can easily affect not only the unvaccinated, but also infants too young to be vaccinated and even the elderly whose immune system is weakened.
In recent months, the country has seen many cases of measles, particularly among people aged 20 to 30 who received a single measles vaccine, before the government changed its policy for two shots. in 1997. People born before 1997 who received a single measles vaccine are required to receive a second injection.
The disease can be prevented for life with only two injections of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, one between 12 and 15 months old and the other between four and six years old.
rotavirus
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea and is the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children around the world. This results in more than 215,000 deaths a year.
The first symptoms are fever and vomiting, followed by three to eight days of watery diarrhea. Once infection has begun, there is no specific medicine to treat the virus other than dehydration prevention measures.
The vaccine is given orally two or three times between six weeks and eight months. Two types of vaccines are available, but cross-vaccination between the two is not allowed.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, which is transmitted primarily when an uninfected and unvaccinated person ingests stool-contaminated food or water. An infected person. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant hepatitis, often fatal.
In Korea, people aged 20 to 30 are particularly vulnerable because they grew up with fewer opportunities to be exposed to the virus. Parents of unvaccinated children aged 12 to 23 months can see a doctor for two injections of the vaccine six months apart.
Adults under 40 are vaccinated without an antibody test and it is recommended that over 40s be vaccinated after the test.
Zoster (herpes zoster)
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same one that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has cured chickenpox can develop the disease when their immunity weakens and the virus lives again. Pain is the most common symptom of the disease, causing a burning sensation or a throbbing sensation accompanied by a very sensitive rash.
One shot can prevent infection with a 50% to 60% probability, and people over 60 are recommended to be vaccinated.
Influenza
Children under the age of two and people over 65 must be vaccinated against the flu or vaccinated every year, as different types of influenza viruses spread each year. People with diabetes, high blood pressure or chronic respiratory diseases must be vaccinated against the flu.
Immune antibodies develop about two weeks after vaccination, experts advise people to be vaccinated between October and December.
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is caused by infections with specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a preventable disease to a large extent if a girl or woman receives the vaccine before being exposed to the virus.
There are three types of vaccines and they are given three times in six months.
The government offers free vaccination to girls under 12 years old.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs caused by a bacterium, a virus or a fungus. It causes inflammation of the alveoli making breathing difficult.
The disease is fatal for the elderly and infants who do not have a strong immune system. The Korean Infectious Disease Society recommends that people over 65 years of age or younger with chronic diseases be vaccinated against pneumococcus.
There are currently two types of vaccines. Although only one vaccine is sufficient for most people over 65, it is recommended for elderly people with a cardiovascular disorder, chronic lung disease or a liver disease or diabetes to contract this type of cancer.
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