2: CELLS - VACCINATIONS

Question 1

How do vaccines work?

Answer 1

• vaccines contain an dead/inactive form of a pathogen
• these carry antigens which cause your body to produce antibodies to attack the pathogens
• memory cells can recognise the antigen if it enters the body again and produce the specific antibodies required to destroy the pathogen quickly

Question 2

What types of immunity are provided by vaccines?

Answer 2

• artificial active immunity
• herd immunity (if enough of the population is vaccinated)

Question 3

What is herd immunity?

Answer 3

disease immunity that occurs when a large proportion of a population are vaccinated against a disease which prevents the spread of the disease to unvaccinated individuals

Question 4

Advs of vaccination

Answer 4

• herd immunity
• important for people who can’t be vaccinated
• protects individuals against pathogens

Question 5

Disadvs of vaccination

Answer 5

• side effects
• some people can’t/refuse to be vaccinated
• if vaccination rates fall, herd immunity breaks down rapidly leading to a rapid increase in new cases
• antigenic variation means new vaccines constantly have to be produced