Principles of Immunisation

Question 1

Describe the principles of active immunisation.

Answer 1

• Active immunity is part of the adaptive immune system
• Split into natural (exposure/infection) and artificial (vaccination)
• The antigen is administered to a person. This stimulates an immune response
• Long term immunity
• There is immunological memory
• Slow process

Question 2

State what is meant by the term ‘vaccination’?

Answer 2

Administration of antigenic material to stimulate a person’s immune response to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen

Question 3

State some common diseases we vaccinate against.

Answer 3

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
  (MMR)

Chickenpox as well

Question 4

When should a vaccination not be taken (contra-indications)?

Answer 4

• During pregnancy
• During febrile illness (fever)
• Allergy
• Immunocompromised (immune system does not work to full capacity)

Question 5

State some vaccines that need to be given to travellers.

Answer 5

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Cholera
• Rabies
• Yellow fever

Question 6

Describe the concept of herd immunity?

Answer 6

• This involves vaccinating a certain number of people within a population so that all members of the population are protected.
• Individuals who cannot be vaccinated will still benefit from routine vaccination programmes

Question 7

Describe the vaccination schedules for children?

Answer 7

- There are non-routine vaccines they may given at birth. This includes vaccines against:
Tuberculosis (children who may be more likely to come into contact with tuberculosis)
Hepatitis B (mother has hepatitis B)

• There are routine vaccines given up until the age of 18

Question 8

Describe the principles of passive immunisation.

Answer 8

• Serum (antibody) from immune individual is administered to uninfected individual
• Leads to recovery
• It is specific
• No immunological memory
• Fast process

Question 9

State 2 disadvantages of passive immunisation.

Answer 9

• No immunological memory therefore effect is short term

- Serum sickness – incoming antibody is recognised as a foreign antigen by the recipient and results in anaphylaxis

Question 10

In passive immunity, human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) can be used for (4)

Answer 10

• Hepatitis A
• Measles
• Polio
• Rubella

Question 11

In passive immunity, specific immunoglobulins can be used for (4)

Answer 11

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Tetanus
• Varicella-Zoster Virus

Question 12

State a disadvantage of active immunisation.

Answer 12

No immediate effect/slow

Question 13

Describe the types of vaccine available for active immunisation.

Answer 13

• Live attenuated (this involves reducing the virulence of the pathogen but still keeping the pathogen alive yet weakened)
• Inactivated (killed antigen)
• Subunit (purified antigen)
• Toxoid (inactivated toxin)

Question 14

Live attenuated vaccines are available for

Answer 14

• Measles
• Oral polio vaccine
• Rotavirus
• Tuberculosis (BCG)
• Yellow fever

Question 15

Inactivated vaccines are available for

Answer 15

Inactivated polio virus (IPV)

Whole - cell pertussis (wP)

Question 16

Toxoid vaccines are available for

Answer 16

Tetanus Toxoid (TT)
Diphtheria toxoid

Question 17

Subunit vaccines are available for

Answer 17

• Acellular pertussis
• Pneumococcal
• Hepatitis B
• Haemophilius influenzae type B (Hib)

Question 18

Why are carbohydrates poor antigens when compared to proteins?

Answer 18

Carbohydrates do not stimulate the immune response as broadly as protein antigens. (Binding the carbohydrate to a protein makes it easier to detect by the body).