By Abdulfatah Babatunde
A Pharmaco-vigilance Technical Officer, Dr Murtala Jibril, says vaccines have been instrumental in eradicating smallpox and other diseases like polio and measles.
Jibrin, Regional Coordination Centre-Western Africa of African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke about vaccines during a webinar on Saturday.
TheNewsZenith reports that Khayr Cancer Health Initiative (KCHI) hosted the webinar themed ”Science Behind Vaccines by Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions”.
“Vaccines have been instrumental in eradicating smallpox and significantly reducing the incidence of polio and measles.
“This global impact underscores the importance of each individual’s role in maintaining high immunization rates to prevent disease outbreaks, making the audience feel empowered and responsible.
The webinar theme is “The Science Behind Vaccines: Separating Myths and Misconceptions from Reality.”
It covered the history of vaccines, the rigorous processes involved in their development and testing, their vital role in public health, and the safety and efficacy of vaccination programmes.
The virtual seminar also addressed common myths about vaccines and provided evidence-based responses to concerns about vaccine ingredients and potential side effects.
Jibril, a renowned immunologist and public health advocate, explained the basic principles of immunology.
He extensively discussed how vaccines stimulate the immune system to protect against infectious diseases.
He covered vaccines’ rigorous research and testing phases before approval, emphasizing their safety and efficacy.
Jibril also addressed some of the most pervasive myths about vaccines, providing evidence-based responses to concerns about vaccine ingredients and potential side effects.
Explaining the mechanism of the vaccine, Jibril said it stimulates the body’s immune system to combat pathogens effectively.
According to him, components of a vaccine include antigens, adjuvants, stabilisers and preservatives.
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There are seven types of vaccines. He listed them to include live-attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines and subunit vaccines.
Others are virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines, RNA or mRNA vaccines, viral vector vaccines, and DNA vaccines.
“Each type has unique benefits and challenges but collectively contributes to comprehensive disease prevention,” the Regional Coordinator said.
Jibril assured participants that vaccines undergo extensive testing and continuous monitoring to ensure their safety.
According to him, adverse effects are rare and typically minor. And, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the minimal risks.
Mr Kazeem Owolabi, a member of the Board of Trustees of KCHI, emphasized the timely relevance of the webinar’s topic.
Owolabi said the vaccine “is one of the most outstanding achievements in public health, protecting individuals and communities by achieving herd immunity.”
According to him, dispelling the myths associated with vaccines is crucial, especially in the current global health context.
”There is a need to ensure widespread acceptance and trust in vaccines, thereby promoting informed decision-making.
Also speaking, Madinat Hassan, the Executive Director of KCHI, reiterated the goal of the Initiatives to be the provision of accurate information and empowering individuals to make informed health decisions.
“This webinar is part of our ongoing efforts, in which each of you plays a crucial role in combating misinformation and supporting public health initiatives,” Hassan said.
A Senior Research Scientist, Dr Emelda Chukwu from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Nigeria moderated the webinar session.
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