Vaccination

Question 1

What is a vaccine or immunisation?

Answer 1

1. Injecting a dead or inactive microorganism into the body. They still carry the same antigens so the body will release antibodies that will destroy them. Even thought they’re dead or inactive.
2. After, the body produces memory cells that recognise the same antigens of the microorganism and stay in the blood. So if live microorganisms of the same type appear again the memory cells can mass produce antibodies rapidly to kill them off.
3. This usually means you get rid of the microorganisms before you get ill.

Question 2

How can epidemics ( big outbreaks of diseases) be prevented?

Answer 2

By vaccinating loads of people.

Question 3

Why can’t vaccines be safe for everyone?

Answer 3

Because vaccines have different effects on people. People can have side-effects from them. For example 1in 4 children who have had the meningitis vaccine have had a painful swelling of the site of injection. Also genetic differences mean that people differently to drugs and vaccines.