3.1.7 Vaccination Flashcards
Primary immune response
The first time the immune system encounters the pathogen
Secondary immune response
Second/subsequent time, the immune system encounters the pathogen
Difference between primary and secondary immune response
The secondary immune response is much faster and greater than the primary response
Why is the secondary response quicker than the primary response?(3p)
- At secondary exposure, your body already has some antibodies stored in memory cells
- This means lymphocyte numbers can increase faster
- There is less of a delay recognising the pathogen
Vaccination (2p)
- Vaccines consist of an injection of a weakened or dead pathogen
- They provide immunity against specific diseases for different periods of time, depending on the vaccine
Herd immunity (2p)
- When a large proportion of a population are vaccinated against diseases
- This presents the spread of diseases to unvaccinated individuals
Methods of protection (3p)
- Dead pathogen
- Weakend pathogen
- Similar but less harmful pathogen
Dead pathogen
Dead pathogen that still has the antigens
Weekend pathogen
Live pathogen with antigens that can’t cause any disease
Similar but less harmful pathogen
Pathogen with the same shape antigen that won’t cause a serious illness
Active immunity
When your immune system makes antibodies against specific antigens
Advantage of active immunity caused by vaccine
Memory cells are created, so there is long-term immunity
Disadvantage of active immunity caused by vaccines
Many suffer from some mild symptoms or side effects of the disease
Process of vaccination (4p)
- Altered pathogen is injected through vaccine
- Antibodies are created to fight antigen (can take a while)
- Some white blood cells remain as memory cells
- Next time you’re exposed to the disease, it will be destroyed before you get any symptoms
