4.1.1 Communicable Disease and Prevention – Vaccination Flashcards
(12 cards)
What type of immunity does a vaccination give?
Artificial (active immunity).
What do vaccines contain to stimulate an immune response?
- A dead or inactive form of the pathogen.
- A weakened form of the pathogen.
- Isolated antigens from the pathogen.
What do the antigens within a vaccine do when injected into an individual?
The antigens stimulate B plasma cells and B memory cells to secrete antibodies.
Following a vaccine, how does antibody production differ when a person is infected with a pathogen.
The secondary response:
- Starts earlier
- Produces antibodies more rapidly
- Produces more antibodies
What is immunisation?
The process of developing an immunity.
Why is more than one dose of a vaccine given during an immunisation programme?
A secondary response is stimulated, and this produces more memory ells and a longer lasting immunity.
What is herd immunity?
Where at least 80% of the population is immunised.
Why is herd immunity important?
It keeps the level of transmission low so that those who cannot be immunised are protected.
What is an epidemic?
When a communicable disease spreads rapidly to a lot of people a local or national level.
Why do we need to produce new vaccinations for the same disease?
Pathogens constantly mutate, if the mutation is in the antigen then a different antibody will be needed to destroy the pathogen. Therefore the original vaccine will no longer work.
Why can are different vaccines needed for different pathogens?
- Different pathogens have different antigens on their surface.
- Antigens have a specific shape.
- The shape of an antibody must be complementary to the specific antigen to enable it to bind.
Why are vaccination programmes sometimes difficult to implement in developing countries?
- Lack of health care professionals to administer vaccines.
- Storage facilities required to keep vaccines cool may not be available.
- Natural disasters/civil wars make it difficult to implement programmes.
