Vaccines

What is the purpose of a vaccine?

To expose the immune system to antigenic material without causing disease.

Who developed the first vaccine and against what disease?

Edward Jenner; smallpox.

What type of vaccine is MMR?

Live attenuated.

Difference between Salk and Sabin polio vaccines?

Salk = inactivated; Sabin = live attenuated.

What is a viral vector vaccine?

A carrier virus delivers a gene encoding an antigen.

What is a subunit vaccine?

A vaccine containing only purified antigens.

What disease do toxoid vaccines protect against?

Toxin-mediated diseases (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria).

How do nucleic acid vaccines work?

Host cells produce the antigen from introduced DNA/RNA.

What type of genetic material does measles have?

RNA

Why is vitamin A given in measles?

To maintain normal epithelial tissues

Does the MMR vaccine cause autism?

No

Why was Wakefield’s study invalid?

No controls, biased cohort, altered data, financial conflicts

What is herd immunity?

Protection of the population when enough people are immune