The Role of Korean Medical Community in the Era of Opened Vaccination

Kang, Jin Han

Abstract

Vaccination is a very efficacious medical management to prevent infectious diseases. We can also save human life and maintain economy through vaccination. Vaccination era has started since the 18th century at the time when bovine small pox vaccine was developed by Jenner. After this time, many effective vaccines have been developed and clinically implemented. As the results of active vaccination, so many contagious infectious diseases were eradicated and markedly decreased. However, if we neglect the importance of vaccination, infectious diseases will re-emerge. In this respect, the role of medical community in an era of opened vaccination should maintain the activity of immunization and actively participate in the government enterprise concerned with the National Immunization Programs (NIP). Medical community has to lead our society to achieve the health of people through improved vaccines and well designed vaccination programs. For this goal, medical personnel must have a vaccine-oriented concept and expert medical knowledge in vaccination. Finally, medical community has to realize the true concepts of this era and advertize the facts to the people.