Principles of Immunisation Flashcards
Principles of passive immunity
Specific and has immunological memory
Principles of active immunity
It is specific as antibodies as produces to fight infection but it does not have a memory
Advantages of passive immunity
Immediate protection and quick resolution
Disadvantage of passive immunity
- Short term effect and no immunological memory
- Can cause serum sickness - incoming antibody recognised as a foreign antigen and results in anaphylaxis
- Graft vs host disease (cell grafts only) - incoming immune cells reject receipient
Examples of passive immunity
Maternal immunoglobulins can be transferred to the foetus or neonate naturally involving the neonatal Fc receptor (Ab binds to it)
Venomous bite - passive infusion of antibody specific to toxin
Rabies immunoglobulin - post exposure prophylaxis with vaccination
How can you acquire active immunity?
Exposure or infection and vaccination
Principles of active immunity
- Antigen stimulate immune response
- Long term immunity
- Immunological memory
- No intermediate effect, but faster and better response to next antigenic encounter
What is the function of vaccinations/immunisations?
It’s the administration of antigenic material (vaccine) to stimulate an individual’s immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen
Common diseases vaccinated against
Measles (childhood disease causing rash), mumps (leads to meningitis) and rubella (dangerous) to unborn children
- Diptheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- HPV
- Flu
- Shingles
Describe two types of vaccinations
- Killed whole organism - target organism killed effectively in use of vaccine
- Attenuated whole organism - avirulent strain to stimulate natural infection
- Subunit - purified antigen (no viral nucleic acids
- Toxoid - treated with formalin to render it inert
Contraindication of vaccination
Temporary: febrile illness and pregnancy
Permanent: allergy and immunocompromised as may develop disease from strain
What is herd immunity?
Aim of vaccination is to protect the individual which in turn also reduces risk of unvaccinated individuals being exposed to infection and those who can’t be vaccinated still benefit
What makes a good vaccine?
Potent antibody, CD8 T+ helper and CD4+ T helper response and memory response
Describe childhood immunisation schedule
2, 3, 4 months old - diphtheria, polio, tetanus and pertussis
12-23 month - measles, mumps, rubella
2/3/4yrs - influenza
12-13yrs - HPV in females
13-18yrs - diphtheria, tetanus, polio, neisseria meningitis C
What are non-routine vaccinations given at birth
Tuberculosis and hep B (if mother hep B pos.)
