Vaccines

Question 2

vaccine

Answer 2

substance designed to induce a potent and protective immune response to potential microbial pathogens by exposing the host to antigenic, non-pathogenic material (mimic as closely as possible without causing disease)

Question 3

what is the purpose of immunization?

Answer 3

to prevent the multiplication of invading organisms, to neutralize their toxins, to prevent OR modify the disease process

Question 4

active immunity

Answer 4

body’s response to exposure to a potential pathogen via immunization, natural infection, or exposure (hopefully leads to long-term protective response)

Question 5

passive immunity

Answer 5

transfer of pre-formed antibodies to an individual; short-lived, does not induce memory

Question 6

when do we passively immunize?

Answer 6

used when immediate protection is needed or the host cannot produce an adequate immune response (i.e. rabies virus, immune deficiency, RSV prevention in premature neonates, Rho-Gam)

Question 7

inactivated vaccines: how are they made?

Answer 7

grow large numbers of virus or bacteria and kill them using hear or chemical fixation

Question 8

live attenuated vaccines: how are they made?

Answer 8

produced by repeated passage of organism through cell culture or lab animals until a non-virulent strain of the organism is isolated (we make sure that they are stable enough that they won’t revert)

Question 9

inactivated bacterial vaccines: functionality

Answer 9

limited, short-lived protection; not part of routine recommended vaccines in US

Question 10

inactivated viral vaccines: functionality

Answer 10

may not produce as good or as long-lived protection (ex. Inactivataed influenza, rabies, Salk polio vaccine) but are safer for the immunocompromised

Question 11

live attenuated viral vaccines: functionality

Answer 11

effective, generate long term protection, may need booster doses, antibody and CTL response, KNOW THESE: safety concern for select patients

Question 12

live attenuated viral vaccines given in the US

Answer 12

measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, live oral influenza vaccine

Question 13

how do you decide who can receive live attenuated vaccines?

Answer 13

for immunocompromised, must measure their CD4 cell count (need at least 15% CD4 to receive without risk)

Question 14

purified antigen/subunit vaccines

Answer 14

only part of the virus, such as an inactivated toxin (diphtheria, tetanus) or purified polysaccharide antigen (more effective when coupled to protein=CONJUGATE)

Question 15

give 2 examples of conjugate vaccines

Answer 15

prevnar13, Hib

Question 16

synthetic/recombinant antigen vaccines

Answer 16

active part is a synthesized protein/AA sequence that has been shown to be an antigenic epitope

Question 17

give an example of a synthetic/recombinant vaccine

Answer 17

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Question 18

what are the adv/disadv of purified antigen/subunit vaccines as well as synthetic/recombinant vaccines?

Answer 18

very safe, but short shelf-life and failure to stimulate CTL response (exogenous antigens)

Question 19

live viral vector vaccine

Answer 19

introduction of genes encoding microbial antigens into genome of non-cytopathic virus – safety concerns, but response is strong

Question 20

DNA vaccines

Answer 20

inoculation of a plasmic containing a specific gene, plasmid DNA integrates into cell genome, inducing T and B cell response (but could induce tumorigenesis!)

Question 21

additional substances added to a vaccine

Answer 21

adjuvants, diluents, stabilizers, antibiotics, preservatives

Question 22

adjuvants

Answer 22

substances added to vaccine to improve or stimulate immune response (i.e. aluminum salts)

Question 23

stabilizers

Answer 23

maintain viral potency (MSG, albumin, phenols, gelatin, glycine)

Question 24

name two factors about an organism that decrease ability to develop an effective vaccine

Answer 24

diversity in surface structure; animal reservoirs

Question 25

name one common vaccine used in the US where we still have a long way to go

Answer 25

pertussis

Question 26

name 3 diseases that have been eradicated in the US due to vaccination

Answer 26

smallpox, diphtheria, polio

Question 27

name a disease where the pediatric population is immune, but adults continue to get the disease

Answer 27

hepatitis B

Question 28

are childhood immunizations cost effective?

Answer 28

VERY

Question 29

benefits of immunization

Answer 29

personal immunity, herd immunity

Question 30

herd immunity

Answer 30

when a certain percentage of a population is immunized, the microorganism cannot survive and even unimmunized are unlikely to come in contact with pathogen

Question 31

risks of immunization

Answer 31

adverse reaction (local tenderness, mild systemic, rare allergic rxns)

Question 32

how is vaccine safety monitored?

Answer 32

reporting systems, pharm companies required to perform surveillance for adverse events

Question 33

is there any evidence that MMR or thimerosal can cause neurologic disease or autism?

Answer 33

NO

Question 34

why do people think that these diseases are linked to vaccines?

Answer 34

genetic diseases tend to pop up around the same time that children are receiving lots of vaccines