BAVINA SOOKDEO
As World Immunisation Week 2025 approaches (April 24-30), emphasis is placed on one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine – vaccination. This year’s theme, Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible, highlights the importance of widespread vaccine access. Despite its success in controlling and eradicating deadly diseases, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation remain major obstacles.
Newsday spoke with Dr Mitra Maharaj, occupational medicine physician and public health advocate to learn more about immunisation.
Since graduating from medical school in 2017, Maharaj's experience includes roles in intensive care and emergency medicine. For the past five years, he has been working in occupational medicine in both public and private sectors. He practises privately at Trinity Medical Centre and serves in the public sector at the Occupational Medicine Unit within the South-West Regional Health Authority. He is also a certified occupational hearing conservationist and medical review officer.
Beyond his clinical work, Maharaj is deeply committed to community health education and advocacy. He co-founded the Healthy Mind Foundation, an NGO focused on raising awareness of critical health issues in TT, through which he actively participates in outreach and educational initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles.
He said immunisation plays a major role in public health and that vaccination is an essential preventive measure, not only protecting individuals but also safeguarding entire communities.
“From a medical perspective, immunisation is an indispensable tool in the fight against infectious diseases, providing multiple layers of protection and benefits to individuals and communities alike.”
Vaccines, he explained, work by stimulating the immune system to recognise and combat pathogens, thereby preventing severe infections. He noted that diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and hepatitis B have seen drastic reductions in incidence rates thanks to widespread immunisation programmes.
“Beyond individual protection, immunisation serves a critical role in safeguarding community health through the concept of herd immunity which occurs when a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, creating a protective barrier that prevents the transmission of disease,” which is crucial for vulnerable populations, such as infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals with medical conditions that contraindicate vaccination.
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“When high vaccination coverage is maintained, it reduces the likelihood of outbreaks, thereby indirectly shielding those most at risk.
“Moreover, from a healthcare systems perspective, immunisation is one of the most cost-effective interventions available. By preventing diseases before they occur, vaccines reduce the economic burden on healthcare systems, families and societies.”
Treating severe infectious diseases often requires intensive medical care, hospitalisation, long-term rehab
