Health prevention is structured around three main categories: primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. The first aims to prevent the onset of the disease by controlling the causes and risk factors. Secondary prevention, for its part, seeks to reduce the impact of an already present disease by detecting it early and treating it quickly. Finally, tertiary prevention focuses on reducing complications or disabilities due to disease progression.
One of the major turning points in the field of primary prevention was the discovery of the vaccine. It was the year 1796 when Edward Jenner, a British doctor, developed the first smallpox vaccine. A new era began in the control of infectious diseases.
Prevention through vaccination and… hygiene
Vaccination has allowed enormous advances in terms of prevention. For example, by becoming systematic, it led to the global eradication of smallpox in 1980 and greatly reduced the prevalence of diseases such as polio, diphtheria and even tetanus. But if it plays an essential role in the prevention of infectious diseases, it must also be accompanied by essential hygienic measures. Covid 19 has reminded us: washing your hands regularly remains the first line of defense against the transmission of many pathogens. But in general, of course, you also have to watch your diet and even your sleep…
Goal: achieve herd immunity
If vaccination affects everyone, certain groups of people may be especially affected, such as children, pregnant women for their own protection and that of their fetus, or even the elderly, who are encouraged to get vaccinated against flu or herpes. zoster. , the immune system can weaken with age. In France and many other countries, certain vaccines are mandatory to achieve sufficient herd immunity to prevent the spread of diseases. In France, for example, since 2018, 11 vaccines are required for children under two years of age. In fact, vaccination coverage must be high enough to protect the entire population, including those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put prevention through vaccination back on the global agenda. Faced with this unprecedented health crisis, international mobilization made it possible to develop, test and distribute vaccines against the virus in record time. Messenger RNA vaccines, a then-new technology for vaccines, demonstrated impressive efficacy and rapid development, paving the way for new prevention strategies for other diseases. In fact, this technology could make it possible to further transform the approach to prevention in the coming years.
This content was produced with OBSERVATORIO DE LA SANTE. The BFMBUSINESS editorial staff was not involved in the production of this content.
Source: BFM TV
