Vaccinations are crucial for several reasons:
- Disease Prevention: Protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases like measles, polio, influenza, and COVID-19.
- Herd Immunity: When a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, it reduces the spread of disease, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated.
- Eradication of Diseases: Successful vaccination programs have led to the eradication or near-eradication of diseases such as smallpox.
- Reduced Healthcare Costs: Preventing disease through vaccination is often more cost-effective than treating diseases after they occur.