vaccines

Question 1

define immunisation

Answer 1

programming the immune system so that the body can respond rapidly to infecting micro-organisms

Question 2

define vaccination

Answer 2

introduction of antigens to a person so that they acquire immunity without suffering from the illness

Question 3

define vaccine

Answer 3

an antigen/pathogen preparation used in artificial immunisation

Question 4

define living attenuated vaccine

Answer 4

Microorganisms which contain weakened pathogens that have a reduced ability to produce disease symptoms
- person does not contract the disease but manufactures antibodies against the antigen.
- longer immunity
= polio, tuberculosis, rubella, measles

Question 5

define inactivated vaccine

Answer 5

produce immunity that is shorter-lasting than immunization using live attenuated micro-organisms
= cholera, typhoid, whooping cough

Question 6

define toxoid vaccine

Answer 6

contains inactivated bacterial toxins

= diphtheria, tetanus

Question 7

define sub-unit vaccine

Answer 7

contains fragments of a whole organism, collecting only those portions that contain the desired antigens
= newer typhoid and whooping cough

Question 8

define recombinant DNA vaccine

Answer 8

Made with genetic engineering techniques by inserting certain DNA sequences from the pathogen into harmless bacterial cells or yeast to produce the desired antigenic fraction of the pathogen
= hepatitis B

Question 9

what are the four types of vaccines?

Answer 9

• living attenuated vaccine
• inactived vaccine
• toxoid vaccines
• sub-unit vaccine

Question 10

how are vaccines delivered?

Answer 10

syringe
lumps of sugar (polio only)
nasal spray (influenza) 
skin patches 
food vaccines

Question 11

what are the 2 risks to vaccines?

Answer 11

• allergic reaction to the medium in which the vaccine was cultured
• preservatives and chemicals may be linked with neurological disorders

Question 12

list 5 social ethics linked with vaccines

Answer 12

• use of animals
• use of human tissue
• informed consent
• promoting sexual activity in teenagers
• availability

Question 13

describe the ethical concern of vaccines in regard to the use of animals to produce vaccines

Answer 13

• viral vaccines require host tissue

- concern about treatment of animals

Question 14

describe the ethical concern of vaccines in regard to the use of humans to produce vaccines

Answer 14

• require huamn tissue because some viruses that causse disease in humans do noot grow well in cells derived from other species
• avoids provlems of cross-species infection
• conern in the way human tissue will be collected

Question 15

describe the ethical concern of vaccines in regard to informed consent

Answer 15

• during trialling of vaccines

- low education standards in developing countries means risks involved in the testing of might not be understood

Question 16

describe the ethical concerns of vaccines in regard to promoting sexual activity

Answer 16

• people believe that vaccinating against STI’s = encourage teenagers to be sexually active

Question 17

describe the ethical concerns of vaccines in regard to availability

Answer 17

• vaccines may no be readily available in all areas

Question 18

describe 1 cultural ethic of vaccines

Answer 18

religious beliefs

• many are opposed to vaccines
• rely on faith in healing and healing through prayer
• methods used may contradict beliefs

Question 19

describe 2 economic ethics of vaccines

Answer 19

cost = too expensive 
commercialisation = interests of commercial vacccine production may affect it sue

Question 20

what is herd immunity?

Answer 20

group immunity that occurs when such a high proportion of people in a population are
immunized, that those who are not immunized are therefore protected

Question 21

what is a booster shot?

Answer 21

The first dose of a vaccine won’t enable produce enough B-cells to become activated
- are required to activate more B-cells = more antibodies are made = greater protection against the particular pathogen.