Vaccines have played a critical role in decreasing the spread of infectious diseases and saving limitless lives. The Polio vaccine and the Covid-19 vaccines are two extremely effectual vaccines that likely to prevent disease and indorse public health. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise the differences between these vaccines and the infections they target.
One of the most noteworthy differences between the two vaccines is the type of transmission of the diseases they aim to prevent. Polio is mainly transmitted through polluted water or food, while Covid-19 is mostly transmitted through respiratory droplets such as from sneezing, etc. This distinction in transmission has key consequences for the approaches used to control the spread of these diseases.
Additional main difference is the severity of the diseases and the age groups they disturb. Although both polio and Covid-19 can trigger serious illness and death, Covid-19 has a higher death rate and has caused in a much higher number of deaths worldwide. Furthermore, though Polio mainly affects children under the age of five, Covid-19 can affect individuals of all ages, including children.
The evolution of the polio vaccine and the Covid-19 vaccines also varies considerably. The Polio vaccine was developed over many years from 1940 to around 1950, whilst the Covid-19 vaccines were developed and accepted for emergency use in less than a year. This difference is due to the urgency of the Covid-19 pandemic and the use of new vaccine knowledges.
Lastly, the appearance of Covid-19 variants has raised fears about vaccine efficiency and the possible for continued spread of the disease. Whereas both Polio and Covid-19 can grow and progress new strains, the emergence of Covid-19 variants highlights the essential for rolling research and observing of the virus.
Despite these differences, vaccination remains a critical means in public health strengths to battle infectious diseases. Vaccines have been instrumental in dropping the spread of Polio and have the potential to control the spread of Covid-19. By accepting the differences between the Polio vaccine and the Covid-19 vaccines, people can make up-to-date conclusions about their health and contribute to efforts to control the spread of diseases.
References:
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Polio. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/polio/index.htm
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- World Health Organisation. (2020). The polio eradication initiative. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/teams/global-polio-eradication-initiative/polio-eradication
- World Health Organisation. (2021). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2021-DON282#:~:text=As%20of%2013%20April%202021,are%20authorized%20for%20emergency%20use.
- Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). COVID-19 basics. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Polio vaccine: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/polio/public/index.html
- World Health Organisation. (2021). Variants of SARS-CoV-2: Technical brief. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/
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