Lecture 10 Vaccine and vaccination

Definitions

• VACCINE: A product that, when introduced into the body, produces immunity from a disease. Can be administered by injection, orally, or through the nasal route.

• VACCINATION: The process of stimulating the body’s immune system to protect against infectious diseases.

• IMMUNIZATION: The process where a person is made resistant or immune to an infectious disease.

Vaccines

• Vaccines are immunogens capable of stimulating the host immune system.

• Deliberate exposure to the antigen results in the production of memory B and T lymphocytes against specific targets.

• A patient is deemed adequately immunized when a second exposure enables them to rapidly respond to the antigen with both humoral and cellular components.

• The purpose of vaccination is to either prevent or reduce the acute clinical manifestation of infection.

Characteristics of an Ideal Vaccine

• Mimics the immunological response as though there was an actual pathogenic incursion.

• Induces immune response similar to true infections.

• Provides a continuous supply of antigens.

• Causes immunological activation of both cellular and humoral responses:

  • B lymphocyte expansion

  • T lymphocyte expansion

  • Elevation of antigen-specific IgG

  • Durable lifelong memory

Types of Vaccines

• Live Vaccine

• Inactivated Vaccines

• Toxoids

• Subunits or Conjugates Vaccines

• mRNA Vaccines

Storage of Vaccines

• Vaccines should be stored and handled appropriately to ensure effectiveness and adequate immunization.

• All vaccines must be stored in refrigerators as cold chain drugs (typically between 2 - 8 degrees Celsius).

• Adequate temperature information for specific vaccines can be obtained from product information.