How a vaccine works

Question 1

What is a vaccination?

Answer 1

A vaccine that protects against future diseases

Question 2

How does a vaccine work?

Answer 2

1. The vaccine contains weakened/dead forms of a pathogen
2. The small amount of the inactive form of the pathogen is put in the body.
3. This stimulates the white blood cells to produce antibodies to fight the pathogen
4. The antibody that is produced is specifically for that pathogen
5. Due to the white blood cell’s memory, if the real pathogen attacks the cells again the body knows how to deal with it.

Question 3

What are the positive aspects of vaccination?

Answer 3

1. Prevents epidemics as there is less people to catch it/pass it on
2. Helps control many infectious diseases e.g. smallpox

Question 4

What are the negative aspects of vaccination?

Answer 4

1. Don’t always give immunity

2. Some might have a bad reaction to the vaccine