World Immunization Day 2023- Overview, Importance, History, Celebration, and more

World Immunization Day is observed every year on November 10 by nations all over the world. The day aims to raise awareness of the advantages of immunization by getting timely vaccination and how it can prevent or even eliminate different diseases from the face of the Earth. In the long run, immunization might also be able to prevent different kinds of pandemics. In this article, you will find important details related to World Immunization Day 2023 along with some interesting facts and benefits related to immunization.

World Immunization Day 2023 Overview

World Immunization Day Upcoming Events

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for World Immunization Day for the next 5 years.

World Immunization Day Significance

Immunization is a process that strengthens a person’s immune system and provides the body with the ability to fight deadly diseases. Getting vaccines properly and timely might reduce the risk of getting deadly diseases and prevent the chances of suffering from health-related complications and eventual death. Vaccines build up the natural defense system of our body, which we know as the immune system, and prepare it for attack by outside germs and viruses. Not only this, vaccination also reduces the risk of an epidemic if any disease occurs in a community. To draw worldwide attention to the benefits of getting vaccines, World Immunization Day is observed every year on November 10.

History

The actual history of observation of World Immunization Day is not known like how and when it began. But here we can learn about a brief history of immunization and the discovery of the practice of vaccination which dates back to as early as the 15^th century. Around the 15^th century (although some sources even suggest 200 BCE), people attempted to prevent illness by getting healthy individuals exposed to smallpox so that they developed immunity to it. Known as variolation, this practice became the basis of vaccination.

In 1976, an 8-year-old James Phipps was introduced to some cowpox virus collected from a milkmaid by English physician Edward Jenner. Phipps suffered a local reaction and became slightly unwell for a little while before making a full recovery. Two months after this, James was once again introduced to a human smallpox virus which miraculously did not affect his health. Thus, vaccination was invented with Dr. Jenner becoming the creator of the first successful vaccine and James the first human to be vaccinated.

World Immunization Day Celebration 2023

World Immunization Day provides an opportunity to raise our voices in support of vaccination and the various advantages that it offers. Seminars, workshops, and other educational events are held by relevant organizations all over the world to create awareness of vaccination. Joins these seminars to learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated and encourage others to do that too. Make sure that you have been properly vaccinated over the course of your life and if any important vaccine is missing, make sure to get your dose.

Check other important days in October

Interesting Facts Related to Immunization

Here are some interesting facts related to immunization and vaccines for you to know this World Immunization Day:

• The first successful vaccine experiment was done with matter from cowpox and the term ‘vaccine’ was taken from the Latin word ‘vacca’ meaning cow.
• Vaccination during childhood prevents around 4 million deaths every year.
• Immunization helped prevent a dangerous epidemic called Meningitis in Africa.
• Polio which was once considered a major threat to children worldwide is on the verge of elimination, thanks to immunization.
• More than 25 effective vaccines are currently available to prevent diseases.
•  Not all vaccines are given via injection shots. Some vaccines are given orally.
• There are still more than 10 million infants living in conflict-affected countries who are not vaccinated.
• Almost all zero-dose children live in low- and middle-income countries, mainly Africa and South-East Asia.

Frequently Asked Questions