3 The first advantage of vaccinating infants from birth is that vaccines strengthen the immune system; that is, they reduce the risk of infants contracting infections by working with the body's natural defenses to help them build immunity against the various EPV. 3 .

Most newborns receive their first vaccine (hepatitis B) at birth, while others are administered during pediatric checkups, such as the vaccine against pneumococcal disease (which causes pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections and sepsis), polio, measles and tetanus, among others. Older children and youth will also need boosters or other vaccines to remain protected during adolescence and adulthood. 2,4 and10

Another benefit is that vaccines not only protect the person who receives them, but also the children and adults with whom the infant or person lives with on a regular basis.

5 When the necessary vaccination schedule is not in place, viruses or bacteria - such as pneumococcus - can travel very quickly through a population and sicken many people, triggering a potential outbreak of infectious disease; however, by vaccinating enough individuals, community or herd immunity can be generated. 6 (See sidebar: "A look at the importance of vaccination").

According to Dr. Lenny Figueroa, Medical Lead of Vaccines at Pfizer Central America and Caribbean (CAC), the best time to stop a bacteria or virus is before it can infect someone. "That is why, for more than 20 years, Pfizer has sought to protect as many people as possible from potentially serious infectious diseases, through the development of safe and quality vaccines, such as the one we have against pneumococcal disease.

Also, through the implementation of various actions in conjunction with other actors in the sector, to achieve adequate access to these vaccines in favor of a continuous chain of life, this benefits not only the vaccinated people, but also those around them”.

Vaccines have reduced the impact and eradicated some diseases, such as smallpox, which once caused disability and death; therefore, the third advantage is that immunization protects future generations. For example, it is no longer necessary to vaccinate against smallpox, and thanks to the rubella vaccine, the risk of pregnant women transmitting the virus to their babies has been significantly reduced.

7 Although pneumococcus remains the second leading infectious agent causing pneumonia requiring hospitalization globally, thanks to vaccination against this bacterium, nearly 175.2 million cases of childhood pneumococcal disease were prevented between 2010 and 2019, worldwide.

11 Vaccines: an investment in health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination is an essential aspect of primary health care and one of the best health investments a country can make, as it prevents and controls outbreaks of VPE and also promotes the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

8 At the household level, vaccines can also save time and money, which is one more benefit on the list. Specifically, because infectious diseases can cause prolonged disability and even create a financial burden of time off work, paying for medical bills and special care required over a long period of time.

7 "At Pfizer, we firmly believe that vaccines are the most successful and effective tool for improving global public health. Therefore, it is necessary for populations to learn the value of immunization, both in children and adults, in order to once again increase vaccination coverage against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in the wake of the gap left by the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus decrease the likelihood of disease outbreaks that would further aggravate the negative effects of the pandemic.

Only in this way can we improve the health and quality of life of the population", said Dr. Figueroa.

Preventive health: one more advantage of vaccination

The development and implementation of preventive health strategies are aspects that have taken on greater value during the last decade, worldwide, because they have shown how they contribute to the possibility of reducing the appearance of diseases and controlling certain risk factors. 13y14

However, prevention does not only include the practice of exercise and healthy lifestyles.

It also includes ensuring that both children and adults receive the necessary vaccinations - as part of each country's vaccination schedule - at the appropriate time, to help them stay healthy and reduce the chances of contracting an EPV. Therefore, the best time to vaccinate minors is when they are healthy.

9. "It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs. That is why, in the framework of World Immunization Week, we at Pfizer want to urge health authorities, patients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to continue to join forces to strengthen immunization programs in each country and generate an optimal chain of life that protects us against infectious diseases. Health belongs to one, but the effort belongs to all", concluded Dr. Figueroa.