Infection and immunity

Question 1

What is an inactivated vaccine ? Give examples

Answer 1

Involve giving a killed version of the pathogen. They cannot cause an infection and are safe for immunocompromised patients, although they may not have an adequate response. Examples are:

Polio
Flu vaccine
Hepatitis A
Rabies

Question 2

What is a subunit/ conjugated vaccine?

Answer 2

Only contain parts of the organism used to stimulate an immune response. They also cannot cause infection and are safe for immunocompromised patients. Examples of subunit and conjugate vaccines are:

Pneumococcus
Meningococcus
Hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenza type B
Pertussis (whooping cough)

Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Shingles (herpes-zoster virus)

Question 3

What are live attenuated vaccines? Give examples

Answer 3

Contain a weakened version of the pathogen. They are still capable of causing infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The following vaccines are live attenuated vaccines:

Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine: contains all three weakened viruses
BCG: contains a weakened version of tuberculosis
Chickenpox: contains a weakened varicella-zoster virus
Nasal influenza vaccine (not the injection)
Rotavirus vaccine

Question 4

What are toxin vaccines? Give examples

Answer 4

contain a toxin that is normally produced by a pathogen. They cause immunity to the toxin and not the pathogen itself. Examples are the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.