Vaccines and Herd Immunity

Question 1

What is vaccination?

Answer 1

The process of injecting antigens into the body.

Antigens are usually dead or operating at a reduced capacity.

Question 2

What are the 4 types of vaccines?

Answer 2

Living attenuated microorganisms
Dead microorganisms
Toxoids
Sub-units

Question 3

What are living attenuated microorganisms? Give 2 examples.

Answer 3

Microorganisms of a reduced virulence

MMR and rabies.

Question 4

What are dead microorganisms? Give two examples.

Answer 4

Microorganism that has been killed but still contains the antigen.

Cholera, bubonic plague.

Question 5

What are toxoids? Give 2 examples.

Answer 5

Substances that inactivate toxins used by bacteria.

Diptheria, tetanus.

Question 6

What is a sub-unit? Give 2 examples.

Answer 6

A fragment of a microorganism which contains enough antigens to cause an immune response.

Hepatitis B, HPV

Question 7

How are vaccinations administered?

Answer 7

Usually via an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.

Question 8

What is herd immunity?

Answer 8

The idea that a disease will be slowed or stopped if the majority of a population is vaccinated against it.

This will also protect unvaccinated people by lowering their chances of coming into contact with the disease.

Question 9

What are pro-vaccine factors?

Answer 9

Sociocultural
Herd immunity
Protecting community

Economic
Vaccine benefits paid
Reduced healthcare cost
No loss of family tax

Question 10

What are anti-vaccine factors?

Answer 10

Sociocultural
Adverse effects (previous negative reaction to vaccines)
Perceived risk of adverse events

Economic
Too expensive