Vaccines and Immunization

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to vaccines and immunization, including definitions, types of vaccines, and their respective advantages and dangers.

What is a vaccine?

A preparation that contains antigens of a pathogen that triggers an immune response when introduced into the body.

What are Whole-Agent Vaccines?

Vaccines that use the entire infectious agent as the antigen.

What are Inactivated Vaccines?

Whole agent vaccines where the infectious agent has been denatured ('killed'); may not provide long-term immunity.

What is a potential danger of Inactivated Vaccines?

The infectious agent may not be completely denatured, potentially allowing the disease to be contracted from the vaccine.

What are Attenuated Vaccines?

Whole agent vaccines where the infectious agent is alive but in a weakened state, providing stronger immunity.

What are some examples of Attenuated Vaccines?

Examples include measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and nasal flu vaccines.

What is a potential danger of Attenuated Vaccines?

Weak individuals may get sick from the vaccine because it contains a live infectious agent.

What are Toxoids?

Vaccines that use an inactivated toxin produced by the infectious agent as the antigen.

What is a characteristic of Subunit Vaccines?

They use only a small fragment from the infectious agent as the antigen.

What are Conjugate Vaccines designed for?

They are used when the antigen is polysaccharide capsule material that doesn't stimulate the immune system in young children well.

What is a unique feature of Nucleic acid Vaccines?

They inject genetic material (DNA or RNA) instead of the antigenic material from the pathogen.

What are Adjuvants in vaccines?

Chemicals added to vaccines to strengthen the immune response.