Immunisation Flashcards
How effective are vaccinations?
Vaccination is considered to be the single most effective medical intervention so far, second only to access to clean water as a public health intervention
What are the benefits of immunisation?
- Protects individuals and communities from serious infections
- proactive measure for well people
- reflects NHS and professional quality
What is meant by the ‘strategic aim’ of the vaccination goal?
selective protection of the vulnerable
elimination through herd immunity and eradication of diseases
What is meant by the ‘programmatic aim’ of vaccination?
To reduce mortality and morbidity from vaccine preventable infections
- prevent deaths
- prevent infection
- prevent transmission
- prevent clinical cases
- prevent cases in a certain age group
Why are people immunised?
- To prevent individual disease for an entire lifetime
- to halt carriage and transmission (herd immunity is a side effect)
- to eliminate and eradicate disease
What are the non-specific defences against pathogens?
- Unbroken skin
- mucous membranes of the gut and lung
- acid and enzymes in the gut
- non-specific metabolism / inactivation
What molecules are involved in innate immunity?
Complement, white blood cells and cytokines
What are the 3 brief stages that the immune system is involved with?
- Immunoglobulin is initially not specific
- Learns specific IgG response
- Lays down immune memory
What is a natural example of passive immunity?
Transfer of antibodies from mother to unborn baby
“maternal antibodies” can protect the baby for up to a year against illness to which the mother is immune
What is an artificial form of passive immunity?
Immunoglobulin, which contains antibodies pooled together from the blood of many donors, can be injected into a person who needs antibodies
this is effective passive immunity, but usually disappears within several weeks or months
most types of transfused blood contain antibodies
What is meant by active immunity?
Active immunity is usually long-lasting immunity produced by the immune system in response to antigens
the antigens can come from natural infection or from vaccination
the immune system makes antibodies to help destroy antigens
What are the benefits of vaccination providing active immunity?
Active immunity occurs without disease or disease complications
What is meant by the term “immunological memory”?
The persistence of protection against disease antigens for many years after natural infection or vaccination
What is the definition of an antigen?
An antigen is defined as “anything that can be bound by an antibody”
What is meant by an “antigenic determinant” or “epitope”?
Antibodies interact specifically with relatively small parts of molecules (antigens)
these are known as antigenic determinants or epitopes
