Immunisations Flashcards
what is the aim of vaccines
- to control communicable diseases
- to prevent onset of disease
- to interrupt transmission of disease
- to alter the course of infection/disease to prevent or limit consequences
what do vaccines do
teach the immune system to recognise bacteria and viruses before they are encountered as potential pathogens
what are the 3 forms of immunity
Active immunity
Passive immunity
Herd Immunity
what is active immunity
any natural immunity to infection
artificial immunisation
what is passive immunity
Transfer of pre-formed antibodies
natural transplacental transfer
artificial human IgG
what is herd immunity
unvaccinated individuals are protected through having a sufficiently large proportion of the population vaccinated as the vaccinated individuals stop the transmission of organism
how is the proportion of the population needed to be vaccinated for heard immunity calculated based on
the transmissibility and infectiousness of an organism
the social mixing of a population
what is the mechanism of effect of vaccines
induces a cell mediated immunity response and serum antibodies
different vaccines have different speed and sustainability
what is a live virus vaccine
an attenuated organism which is replicated in the host (an organism which has reduced virulence but is still viable)
what are the types of inactivated vaccine
suspensions of killed organisms
subunit vaccines (only use part of the disease causing virus)
conjugate vaccines (combines a weak antigen with a strong one so the immune system has a stronger response to the weak one)
what are some reasons to not give a vaccine
confirmed anaphylaxis to previous dose of the same antigen or vaccine component
don’t give live vaccines to immunosuppressed people or pregnant people
egg allergies
severe latex allergy
Acute or evolving illness - defer till resolved/stabilised
how many diseases are protected against in the Scottish immunisation programme
15 different diseases
what are adults vaccinated against
PPV 23
Shingles - Over 70
Seasonal flu -pregnant, over 65, at risk
Various selective programmes - hepB, travel, occupational
