Module 4: Types and Compositions of vaccines

Question 1

What are live vaccines?

Answer 1

Live vaccines contain pathogens, usually viruses, which have been weakened so they can trigger an immune response but not cause diease.

Question 2

What are inactivated vaccines?

Answer 2

Contain viruses that have been inactivated in some way, such as splitting, so they are unable to replicate or cause disease

Question 3

What are some inactivated vaccines on the current NIS?

Answer 3

Influenza, Hep A, polio

Question 4

What are sub-unit vaccines?

Answer 4

Contain microbial fragments or particles that can induce an immune response which protects against disease.

Question 5

What are nucleic acid vaccines?

Answer 5

Use mRNA to carry genetic code to our dendritic cells make specific viral proteins that provoke an immune response.

Question 6

What can a vaccine contain apart from the antigen?

Answer 6

Immune enhancers (adjuvant), preservatives (many vaccines in NZ do not contain these), stabilisers, surfectants, residual components from manufacturing

Question 7

What is the most common adjuvant (immune enhancer) used for vaccines?

Answer 7

Aluminum salts.
(Bonus: breastmilk contains much more aluminum than vaccines; excreted in urine)

Question 8

Are mercury-based preservatives used for NIS vaccines?

Answer 8

No
(Bonus: most NIS vaccines do not contain preservatives at all)

Question 9

What are some stabilisers used in vaccines?

Answer 9

Sucrose, lactose, albumin, gelatin, glycine and monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Question 10

What is a common surfectant used in vaccines?

Answer 10

Polysorbate 80. Keeps particales suspended in liquid, prevents clumping.
(Bonus: also in ice cream!)

Question 11

What are some residuals that can be in vaccines?

Answer 11

Antibiotics, virus-inactivating agents, gelatin, ovalbumin (an egg protein)

Question 12

What is a vaccine?

Answer 12

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease

Question 13

What are five key characteristics of vaccines?

Answer 13

Safety, Immunogenicity, Efficacy, Long lasting, Stabiilty

Question 14

How are the pathogens in live vaccines weakened?

Answer 14

They are forced to replicate repeatedly in tissue culture, known as passaging, resulting in less virulent (harmful) pathogen

Question 15

What are currently the live vaccines on the NIS?

Answer 15

MMR, rotovirus, varicella, BCG

Question 16

What are some of the sub-unit vaccines on the NIS?

Answer 16

Tdap, HepB, HIV, Hib, PCV, Zoster

Question 17

What are adjuvants?

Answer 17

Ingredient in vaccines that enhances the immune response by improving delivery
Not required in live vaccines

Question 18

What happens to vaccine ingredients?

Answer 18

The antigen is taken to the lymph nodes. All other ingredients are excreted via blood, kidneys, or metabolised.

Question 19

What are needed to manufacture vaccines for viral diseases?

Answer 19

A source of the virus and a suitable culture medium.
(NO human cells or tissue are present)