Many people mistakenly believe that vaccines are only for children, and that adults no longer require them. However, vaccinations are essential at all stages of life, according to Dr. Sonia López Álvarez, a specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, who recently delivered a lecture at the Iztapalapa Unit of the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM).
With recent measles outbreaks occurring in Mexico, Dr. López Álvarez urged individuals, especially those under 40, to review their national health record. She emphasized the necessitate for two doses to achieve up to 95 percent protection, or to receive the vaccination if records are unavailable or incomplete. Maintaining high vaccination rates is crucial for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Even among those already immunized, a small percentage may still become ill, but the illness is typically mild and helps prevent severe complications, hospitalization, or death. The clinical benefits of vaccination far outweigh any potential risks.
Dr. López Álvarez, who also serves as the operational director of the Doyenne Institute, reminded attendees that certain booster shots require periodic administration. This includes annual doses for influenza and COVID-19, as well as tetanus and diphtheria boosters recommended every ten years.
“Vaccines provoke immunological memory, meaning they train the immune system to recognize and fight infectious agents,” she explained. “In cases like influenza or COVID-19, which do not generate permanent protection after infection, inoculation continues to be necessary as a preventative measure.”
For individuals between 20 and 59 years old, she recommended vaccinations for hepatitis B, measles-rubella (based on prior history), and human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine serves as a preventative measure against cervical cancer, in addition to vaccines for pneumococcus and shingles.
“It’s an act of individual and social responsibility that is an integral part of self-care and goes beyond habits like eating well or getting enough sleep, as it includes primary prevention and regular medical checkups.”
She highlighted that vaccination not only protects the recipient but also contributes to the safety of the community, especially those who cannot receive vaccinations due to medical reasons, such as cancer patients or newborns.
“When a high proportion of the population is protected, it generates what is known as herd immunity, which breaks the chains of transmission of diseases and gives the virus fewer opportunities to circulate,” Dr. López Álvarez said during the presentation, Self-Care and Vaccines in Adults.
According to the specialist, vaccines have undergone an astonishing evolution and demonstrate a high level of protection. “When people say they don’t work as well, I simply point out that the first one dates back to 1876, so they have a well-established history of nearly 200 years.”
Dr. López Álvarez urged the public to visit health centers to complete or update their vaccination schedules and to obtain information from reliable, verified, and scientifically-based sources regarding their effectiveness and potential side effects.
“Anti-vaccine movements are not new; they existed as early as the 19th century when immunization against smallpox began in the United States and England. It’s important to provide training and manage information in an accessible and understandable way for people who have doubts. No medication is completely harmless, but the benefits these biologicals provide, compared to the risks of the disease, are much greater.”
