Vaccines

Question 1

What are the vaccines available against Rotavirus?

Describe the more commonly used vaccine and the number of dosage given.

Answer 1

Rotarix and Rotateq
Rotarix is more common: Live attenuated vaccine. Given orally as 2 doses: (minimum 4 weeks apart) 8 weeks and 12 weeks old

Question 2

How many doses of HepB vaccine are given?
How is this vaccine given?
Name the vaccine.

Answer 2

Engerix B, not live vaccine.
IM injection
3 doses: 0, 1, 6 months + follow up test and booster dose
OR for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis in high risk groups: Accelerated course: 0, 1, 2 months + booster at 12 months if continued risk
OR Rapid course: 0, 7, 21 days + 12 months booster for those >18yo and are in need of rapid protection

Question 3

Name the vaccines for Varicella Zoster Virus and give their dosages.

Answer 3

Varilrix (or the alt. Varivax): Live attenuated vaccine. Given to those more than or equal to 1 year of age. 0.5ml injected SC, must not be given as IV or IM. Given 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. (4-8 weeks)

Question 4

Why are live vaccines such as MMR not given to children below 12 months of age?

Answer 4

The maternal antibodies may still be circulating in the baby’s system and this could interfere with the individual’s response to the vaccine, causing vaccine failure.

Question 5

Name the yellow fever vaccine. Dosage and administration?

Answer 5

17D vaccine: Live attenuated vaccine

Given as a single dose IM/SC injection

Question 6

For which illness are vaccinations not available?

Answer 6

Chikungunya virus, Parvovirus B19

Question 7

When children are immunized, they contribute to the protection of others. This is referred to as:

Answer 7

Herd Immunity

Question 8

If only HBsAb is detected, no detection of HBcAb or HBsAg, is the individual infected, has a past infection of Hepatitis B, or is vaccinated against HepB?

Answer 8

Vaccinated against HepB.
If have both HBsAb and HBcAb, the patient was previously infected with HepB.
If infected, the patient would have a positive HBsAg.

Question 9

Which of the following vaccines was included in the routine childhood vaccination schedule from Autumn 2013 for children over 2 years old?

a) HepB vaccine
b) Influenza vaccine
c) Rotavirus vaccine
d) Varicella vaccine

Answer 9

B. Influenza vaccine

Question 10

What are toxoid vaccines?

Answer 10

They are inactivated vaccines made of inactivated toxins.

Question 11

What type of vaccines are MMR?

Answer 11

Live vaccine

Question 12

What type of vaccine is HepA vaccine?

Answer 12

Whole cell inactivated vaccine

Question 13

What type of vaccine is HiB vaccine?

Answer 13

Whole cell inactivated vaccine

Question 14

“Subunit” refers to protein-based or polysaccharide-based fragmented vaccine?

Answer 14

Protein-based fragmented vaccine

Question 15

“Conjugated” refers to protein-based or polysaccharide-based fragmented vaccine?

Answer 15

Polysaccharide-based fragmented vaccine

Question 16

Before 1 year of age, babies are not given live vaccine, except for which vaccine? When is this vaccine given?

Answer 16

Except for Rotavirus. A live vaccine is given at 2 - 3 months of age.

Question 17

What are the effects of adjuvant given together with the vaccine?

Answer 17

Adjuvant helps to enhance the immune response to the vaccine’s antigen, by carrying the vaccine antigen and slow its release or provoke a local inflammatory response.

Question 18

What are the general rules to follow when giving vaccine?

Answer 18

Consent, Expiry date, Record batch number, correct route of administration, resuscitation facilities

Question 19

What is BCG vaccine for? What type of vaccine is it: Protein-based vaccine, Polysaccharide-based vaccine or live attenuated vaccine?

Answer 19

BCG vaccine is Bacterial Calmette-Guerin vaccine which is a Tuberculosis vaccine.
It is a live attenuated vaccine.

Question 20

What is the vaccine for Dengue? How are the doses given?

Answer 20

Dengvaxia.

3 doses given at 0/6/12 month schedule

Question 21

Which vaccines for travellers are provided free of charge by the NHS?

Answer 21

DTaP
Cholera
Hepatitis A
Typhoid

Question 22

Name the diseases with vaccinations that are live vaccines.

Answer 22

MMR,
Rotavirus - Rotarix
Smallpox
Chickenpox/VZV - Varilrix, Varivax
Yellow Fever
Shingles