Vaccines Flashcards
What are the advantages of attenuated vaccines?
Closely resembles natural infection → excellent immune response.
Stimulates both humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
No adjuvants necessary.
Life-long immunity.
Requires a single dose.
What are the disadvantages of attenuated vaccines?
Reversion to virulence → may cause disease.
Severe disease in immunocompromised individuals.
Lesser stability (requires strict cold chain).
Contamination problems.
Not given in pregnancy.
What are the advantages of killed vaccines?
Safer → no pathology or contamination.
Greater stability to adverse environmental conditions.
What are the disadvantages of killed vaccines?
Short-lived immune response.
May not induce immunity after the first dose.
More costly.
Need for booster doses.
What are the advantages of subunit vaccines?
No live components → cannot cause disease.
Safer than live vaccines.
More stable than live vaccines.
What are the disadvantages of subunit vaccines?
Not very effective.
Short-lasting immunity.
Hypersensitivity reactions to adjuvants or toxins.
Usually developed after the onset of an epidemic.
What are the advantages of toxoid vaccines?
Does not cause disease.
What are the disadvantages of toxoid vaccines?
Not highly immunogenic.
May require multiple doses.
What are the advantages of DNA vaccines?
Stimulates both humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
Induces a wider range of immune responses.
Stable → no cold chain required.
Can be genetically engineered for specific antigens.
What are the disadvantages of DNA vaccines?
Low levels of T and B cell memory (first-generation plasmids).
Safety concerns regarding genetic material.
