Resistance to vaccines

Twenty years ago, a trip to the doctor's office often resulted in a prescription for antibiotics. Viruses, flu symptoms, unknown ailments and the like were all treated with various antibiotics. This widespread usage of antibiotics for illness has become an issue in today's medical world, as many individuals took antibiotics for issues that could not be corrected by it.

Also, taking the full-prescribed dosage for the set number of days isn't often followed. Using antibiotics when not needed or not taking the full course of medicine is a dangerous practice. Vaccines, in light of the antibiotic confusion, are coming into the debate as health officials worry about emerging diseases that would be resistant to the standard vaccine.

The line between effective antibiotic treatment and antibiotic-resistant diseases is becoming blurred. This issue has come about after many physicians prescribed antibiotics for diseases not affected by the "miracle" drug. To make matters worse, patients often do not take the recommended dosage for the prescribed number of days. Health officials and scientists around the world are becoming worried that this same principle applies to vaccines as well and are hurrying to examine the consequences of individuals not completing the scheduled regime of vaccination. Could vaccines and antibiotics share this common problem?

If you have ever had an ear-ache, the possibility of you being prescribed an antibiotic is high. What happens if the antibiotic is not taken as prescribed? Sometimes nothing happens, but occasionally the bacteria linger and build up a resistance to the specific antibiotic. This is the same principle behind vaccines. A vaccine is a variation of a particular disease that was manipulated so that it would build up immunity within the person to that disease. The current issue with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one that is causing doubts and study within the medical community in its relation to vaccines. What if a disease such as small pox became resistant to its vaccine?

In order to get an idea of how antibiotics work, it is best to understand how the virus or bacteria function. A bacterium is a tiny, one-celled organism that comes into the body and multiplies. If the bacteria manage to evade the body's immune system, it begins attacking the tissue. This is not a good thing. Antibiotics are, in essence, specialized assassins. They target the intended invaders and eliminate those without harming anything else within our bodies. The catch? Antibiotics only work on living organisms. A virus is not a living organism; rather it is a piece of DNA that has been changed. If a person takes only part of the prescribed antibiotic regime, then any remaining bacteria can become resistant, as evident by recent emerging strands of staphylococcus (staph infection). Antibiotics taken without care are leading to serious concerns in the health community.

Antibiotics are prescribed when a bacterium is present within the human body. Normally, the body's immune system can filter and fight out many of the common varieties of bacteria found in the world. There are bacteria that invade the body and even though a resistance is mounted, a little help from an antibiotic is needed. A disease such as small pox is a part of a strand of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that has been changed. Imagine a computer virus infiltrating past the computer protection and installing itself, causing pop-ups and ad ware. That is what a disease does. It is not affected by antibiotics and instead must be treated differently. In fact, once the disease is caught, the human body must weather through it because by that point a vaccine would be useless. Vaccines must be taken in advance and for the full treatment for the body to be effectively protected.

It isn't uncommon for people to become confused as to when an antibiotic is effective and when a vaccine should be used. Antibiotics are used to treat living organisms called bacterium. Bacteria invade the body and overpower the immune system. A vaccine is different than an antibiotic in many ways, but the number-one way is how they each protect or help the body. Taking a related or weaker strain of a certain disease creates a vaccine by using a serum, which is virtually harmless to the individual but allows the immune system to become resistant to the strain should exposure ever occur.

It isn't uncommon for people to become confused as to when an antibiotic is effective and when a vaccine should be used. Antibiotics are used to treat living organisms called bacterium. Bacteria invade the body and overpower the immune system. A vaccine is different than an antibiotic in many ways, but the number-one way is how they each protect or help the body. Taking a related or weaker strain of a certain disease creates a vaccine by using a serum, which is virtually harmless to the individual but allows the immune system to become resistant to the strain should exposure ever occur.

Vaccines have saved countless lives over the last century and unlike their antibiotic cousins, have not shown to create other mutations from lack of complete immunizations. Scientists are now debating whether or not vaccines can come into play where antibiotics are failing. Should this become a reality, individuals currently defenseless against the super bacteria (such as staphylococcus) could find themselves once again able to fight off such dreaded menaces to life and health. The possibilities of a disease becoming resistant to the vaccine are almost negligible.

The best solution for the time being, in regards to vaccines, is to complete the series recommended by health care officials. Doctors and scientists cannot predict the nature of disease, but they can try to control the spread. A disease such as polio mutating and becoming resistant to the vaccine would be devastating. Vaccinating children and unprotected adults is the only option. Could we do anything less if it meant our well being?