Vaccinations

Question 1

What does Immunisation refer to?

Answer 1

The programming of the Immune System to that the body can respond rapidly to infecting micro-organisms which can occur naturally or artificially

Question 2

What is a vaccination?

Answer 2

• The artificial introduction of antigens or pathogenic organisms so that the ability to produce the appropriate antibodies is acquired without the person having to suffer the disease
• The antigen preparation used in artificial immunisation

Question 3

What are the 4 types of Vaccines?

Answer 3

1. Living Attenuated Micro-organisms
2. Dead Micro-organisms
3. Toxoid
4. Sub Unit Vaccine

Question 4

What are Living Attenuated Micro-organisms Vaccines?

Answer 4

• Are vaccines of a reduced virulence (reduced ability to produce symptoms)
• Person does not contract the disease but manufactures antibodies against the Antigen
• This immunity lasts for longer
  e. g. Chicken Pox, Measles, Rubella, Yellow Fever

Question 5

What are Dead Micro-organisms Vaccines?

Answer 5

• Killed micro organisms
• Immunity produced in this way is not usually as prolonged as it would be with immunisation using live attenuated micro-organisms
  e. g. Cholera, Typhoid, Whooping Cough

Question 6

What are Toxoid Vaccines?

Answer 6

• Made from filtrates of bacterial cultures containing toxins
• The toxins produced by the bacteria are inactivated so that when they are injected into someone they do not make the person ill
  e. g. Diphtheria, Tetanus

Question 7

What are Sub Unit Vaccines?

Answer 7

• Instead of using a whole dead or attenuated micro-organism, a fragment of the organism is used to provoke the immune response
  e. g. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Hepatitis B

Question 8

What are the Methods of Vaccine Delivery?

Answer 8

1. Syringe - most common method of vaccination is injection with a syringe
2. Oral - vaccines such as the Polio vaccine is given bia mouth in a sweet syrup or in lumps of sugar
3. Nasal Spray - Use of a fine spray into the nostrils
4. Skin Patches - self administering, could be sent to people though post and could be very useful in developing countries where medical services are not readily available
5. Foods - This line of research has now been abandoned because of difficulties in controlling the dose

Question 9

What is Herd Immunity?

Answer 9

When a large percentage of a community is vaccinated it reduces the chance of the disease in even the most susceptible individuals, but also increases the immunity of the population

Question 10

What are the risks associated with vaccines?

Answer 10

1. Allergic Reaction
2. Impossibility to Isolate one virus from another
3. Manufacture

Question 11

What affects participation in vaccines?

Answer 11

1. Economic
2. Education & Knowledge
3. Religion
4. Media
5. Peers and social influence