Infectious Diseases

Question 1

Name some inactivated vaccines?

Answer 1

• polio
• flu vaccine
• Hep A
• rabies

(killed pathogen so safe for immunocompromised)

Question 2

Name some sub-unit and conjugate vaccines?

Answer 2

• pneumococcus
• meningococcus
• Hepatitis B
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• Haemophilus influenza B
• HPV

(contains parts of pathogen to stimulate immune response, safe for immunocompromised)

Question 3

Name some live attenuated vaccines?

Answer 3

• measles, mumps and rubella
• BCG
• chickenpox
• Shingles
• nasal influenza
• rotavirus

(weakened version of pathogen, could cause infection in immunocompromised)

Question 4

Name some toxin vaccines?

Answer 4

• diphtheria
• tetanus

(cause immunity to the toxin but not the pathogen)

Question 5

What is the UK vaccination schedule during year 1?

Answer 5

8 weeks:

• 6 in 1 vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and hepatitis B)
• Meningococcal type B
• Rotavirus (oral vaccine)

12 weeks:

• 6 in 1 vaccine (again)
• Pneumococcal (13 different serotypes)
• Rotavirus (again)

16 weeks:

• 6 in 1 vaccine (again)
• Meningococcal type B (again)

1 year:

• 2 in 1 (haemophilus influenza type B and meningococcal type C)
• Pneumococcal (again)
• MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella)
• Meningococcal type B (again)

Question 6

What vaccinations take place between 1 and 14 years old?

Answer 6

Yearly from age 2 – 8:
- Influenza vaccine (nasal vaccine)

3 years 4 months:

• 4 in 1 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio)
• MMR vaccine (again)

12 – 13 years:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (2 doses given 6 to 24 months apart)

14 years:

• 3 in 1 (tetanus, diphtheria and polio)
• Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y

Question 7

Why give the HPV vaccines?

Answer 7

Ideally given to girls and boys before they become sexually active. Intends to prevent contracting and spreading HPV once they become sexually active.
The current NHS vaccine is Gardasil, which protects against strains 6, 11, 16 and 18:

Strains 6 and 11 cause genital warts
Strains 16 and 18 cause cervical cancer

TOM TIP: A common exam task is to counsel patients about their child receiving the HPV vaccine. They are often upset because they believe this implies their daughter or son is sexually promiscuous. Focus on the fact it needs to be given before they become sexually active and that it protects them from cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV is very common and infection is the number one risk factor for cervical cancer.