vaccinology

Question 1

what are important characteristics

Answer 1

• are safe to use (no toxic components)
  do not cause the disease they aim to prevent
• long lasting
• have minimal side effects (acceptance)
  are long lasting (no regular jabs)

are easy to store and transport (think developing world)

are cheap (affordability, health budget)

Question 2

what are active vaccines?

Answer 2

• causes host to mount an immune response

- as if real infection had taken place

Question 3

what do passive vaccines do?

Answer 3

’prefabricated’ immune response*

for example post-exposition prophylaxis with anti-Hepatitis-B antibodies

Question 4

why not give live attenuated vaccine to immune compromised individuals?

Answer 4

They must not be given to individuals with a compromised immune system, because they could develop the disease the vaccine is designed to prevent (or at least a milder form of it).

Question 5

how long does immunity last with live vaccines?

Answer 5

Live vaccines come closer to a natural infection than inactivated vaccines and produce strong immune responses
often providing lifelong protection.

Question 6

what are examples of live vaccine

Answer 6

BCG (tuberculosis),
shingles,
MMR,
nasal spray influenza

Question 7

can live attenuated vaccines multiply in the body?

Answer 7

yes
Attenuated agents cannot normally cause disease in healthy people, but can still replicate to produce a strong immune response.

Question 8

what does an inactivated vaccine contain?

Answer 8

contain agents that have been destroyed by chemicals or heat.

Question 9

can inactivated viruses replicate?

Answer 9

The inactivated agent cannot replicate in the body

but the immune system can recognise it and mount a protective immune response.

Question 10

which type of vaccine needs a booster dose?

Answer 10

Inactivated vaccines generally produce a weaker immune response, so it often takes several doses (initial vaccination and “booster”) to maintain the immune response.

Question 11

what are examples of inactivated vaccine?

Answer 11

influenza,
pertussis,- whooping cough
poliomyelitis

Question 12

what are examples of toxoid vaccines?

Answer 12

Tetanus,

Diphteria

Question 13

what are examples of passive immunisation?

Answer 13

Hepatitis B hyperimmune serum – after exposure
Tetanus hyperimmune serum – after exposure
Rabies hyperimmune serum – after exposure
Anti-venoms, anti-toxins, etc. – after exposure

Question 14

what are examples of subunit vaccines?

Answer 14

hep b

tb

Question 15

wha is an example of a subunit/conjugate vaccine?

Answer 15

• contain polysaccharide and protein

- HIB - haemophilus influenza

Question 16

what are examples of protein/virsu like particle vaccines?

Answer 16

• Hep B

- HPV

Question 17

which type of vaccine may cause anaphylaxis upon repeat administration?

Answer 17

anti-sera

e.g. anti diphtheria horse serum

Question 18

which adjuvant cause narcolepsy in the swine flu vaccine?

Answer 18

ASO3

Question 19

What is the concept of herd immunity?

Answer 19

• virus spread stops when the probability of infection drops under a certain threshold

Question 20

what does the success of a vaccine depend on?

Answer 20

the recipients ability to mount an immune response

Question 21

which type of passive immunisation prophylaxis is given to babies born to mothers who develop varicella?

Answer 21

vzv hyperimmune globulin

given 1 week before or after birth