In an undergraduate microbiology lab, I first learned how vaccination works – a lesson that went beyond antigens and antibodies. We explored how vaccines defend the body and how they've shaped population health over time. It was the first time I truly grasped the impact of vaccination, not just as a personal health measure, but as a powerful public health tool. In that lab, I gained a new perspective on vaccination as a form of infrastructure.
Vaccines are an invisible shield that protects entire communities from disease; however, this unsung hero often goes unnoticed. Now, as a Master of Public Health student and a public health professional working in immunization, that insight has become central to how I view my role in the field.
Vaccines are some of public health’s greatest success stories. They’ve drastically reduced, and in some cases eradicated, once-devastating diseases. But their accomplishments come with a paradox: when vaccines work, nothing appears to happen. Over time, they become victims of their own success.
There are rarely headlines when children don’t get measles or when an outbreak of pertussis does not occur.
Challenges related to vaccines, including misinformation and disinformation, are often highlighted more than stories of communities being successfully protected. While building trust in communities requires acknowledging challenges that do exist, we must not lose sight of the meaningful progress that has already been made. As the severity of now-preventable diseases fades from memory and the absence of illness becomes the norm, it becomes easy to take these tools for granted – to forget just how remarkable and essential they are, and how much behind-the-scenes effort is required to maintain protection.
Behind every dose of a vaccine that is administered is a coordinated system involving countless moving pieces: scientists, researchers, policymakers, communicators, educators, program planners, implementers, and evaluators.
Each component works across global, national, state, and local levels to protect the public in ways that are rarely seen. On the front lines, health care clinics and providers conduct the most visible part of this process: administering vaccines, answering questions, and building trust with patients and families. Access to vaccination depends on this robust infrastructure of systems that must be invested in and maintained to preserve past progress and continue advancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Yet preventative care programs often go unnoticed, underfunded, undervalued, and are only fully appreciated in their absence. How can we overcome this challenge? It’s not a simple question, but part of the answer lies in how we communicate and what we choose to celebrate. We must actively highlight the successes of vaccination, not just the science behind it, but the real-world impact it has on communities.
Clear, consistent communication and visible celebration of progress are not optional; they are essential to ensuring that vaccines remain safe, accessible, trusted, and equitably delivered across all communities.
My passion for vaccination began in microbiology lab, where I first gained insight into how science and systems intersect to create real-world impact. It sparked an interest that has informed my public health journey, shaping how I think about vaccines not just as medical tools, but as essential infrastructure that must be upheld to protect communities now and into the future. I believe one of our important responsibilities as public health professionals is to protect and strengthen the systems that protect us. When we support immunization infrastructure, we support health equity, national security, and communities’ ability to thrive.
Julia Donavant is Research & Development Coordinator at the Association of Immunization Managers in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is expected to complete the Master of Public Health program in Spring 2026.
July 15, 2025
