Vaccinations and immunity

Question 1

What does vaccination do?

Answer 1

• Grants immunity against specific pathogens and any diseases caused by the pathogen

Question 2

How does a vaccine work?

Answer 2

• When our body discovers a foreign pathogen, out white blood cells develop antibodies specific to the antigens of the pathogen to kill it
• A vaccine contains an inactive or weakened veresion of the pathogen (not strong enough to cause us harm). When our body detects this inactive pathogen, we develop antiboies to kill it. Therefore, if we every come into contact with the active pathogen, our body will remember the antibodies and rapidly produce them, making us immune

Question 3

What are some pros of vaccines?

Answer 3

• Protection from pathogens and related diseases
• Prevents large scale outbreaks (epidemics)
• Herd immunity

Question 4

What are some cons of vaccines?

Answer 4

• Don’t always grant immunity
• Could have bad reactions - swelling, seizures

Question 5

What types of diseases can we make vaccines against?

Answer 5

• Viral
• Bacterial