People can be divided into several classes, depending upon the extent to which we want to classify human beings. Classifications may be based upon geography, race, caste, or membership in a social group. A people is any measurable plurality of people considered as a cohesive whole. Within a people, however, there may be divisions based on language, culture, religion, and/or political opinion. Although it is sometimes difficult to draw the line between different types of peoples, there is common ground on which all human kinds belong.
People who are most likely to become ill and die young are those who are weakly immune. If they do not get adequate vaccines, they become prone to diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis. These diseases usually target the younger children, whose immune systems are still relatively immature. In a similar way, those who live in industrialized communities with cheap, mass-produced goods are also at a high risk of contracting diseases that primarily affect the elderly. As these groups age, they become more vulnerable to diseases that attack their weak immune systems.
Adults, on the other hand, generally have a strong, fully protected immune system and are rarely susceptible to diseases. This is why northern Ireland has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Europe. Unprotected people account for a large percentage of the sicknesses that are spread around the world. People without face coverings are at a higher risk of contracting chicken pox, typhoid, dysentery, and measles. The elderly are the ones who are most vulnerable.
Those who are properly immunized stand no greater threat of illness than unaided healthy people. However, healthy people may be at risk if they do not receive adequate doses of vaccines. Children too face trouble if they do not receive adequate vaccines. The price of vaccinations varies according to the type of vaccine. For example, Rabies, Lassa, and Hepatitis B vaccines are the most expensive. In Northern Ireland, where a few children do not receive adequate vaccines, some parents go to great lengths by refusing to immunize their children.
It is advisable that immunizations be carried out by those who cannot be properly immunized. Children too, whose immune systems are not up to the mark, should get booster shots after the age of six months. Pregnant women should also receive booster shots after thirty days of pregnancy. People over the age of sixty should have long-time follow up on their annual shots, so that they can protect themselves against diseases that strike later in life. In addition, people with poor diets or lack of exercise should consider booster shots.
Although vaccines have saved many lives, they still have a long way to go. Some diseases are still stubborn, and even when caught early, might prove to be a very serious problem. The best way to prevent these diseases is to immunize everyone. However, despite the prevalence of preventable diseases, people might still have to face the possibility of encountering an unawares disease, which could lead to death.