Principles of Prevention
From childhood, you have heard that prevention is better than cure. It is a fact to follow in real life. In the world of medicine that relates to science and biology, prevention is always better. The reason is that sometimes when we fail to prevent any disease by not preparing in advance, the cure may be unavailable or hard to get. Therefore, it is always wise to avoid certain conditions by planning. Prevention helps when you are in close contact with a person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease. In this section, we will talk about Immunization and vaccination as ways to prevent infections.
Diseases are conditions that impair the smooth and efficient working of our body and mind. When we go out for treatment in case of an infection, it is possible that we face some obstacles. The difficulty can be a disease that has completely damaged the body functions beyond recovery, or a person suffering from an ailment is confined to bed as there is no cure or a person suffering from infection is likely to spread the sickness to others as well. In such situations, it is necessary to have some preventive measures in place.
Vaccines and immunization are considered as one of the most successful ways of prevention when it comes to taking care of one’s body. These are biologically prepared tools that reduce the risk of human beings contracting diseases, some of which can be life-threatening. Vaccines are usually administered through injections. They make us immune by working with the natural defenses present in our bodies.
Another aim of more and more vaccines being administered is to prevent and control outbreaks of infectious diseases. Hence, it is believed that immunization is a crucial key component of primary health care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization and vaccines help prevent around 2-3 million deaths each year from severe diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, and influenza.
Types of Immunization
Immunization is a process through which a person who is immunized develops resistance to particular diseases. This resistance is developed by administering a vaccine. A vaccine is a dose of specialized medication that stimulates the immune system of a person and helps beat certain diseases. The process of immunization has proved advantageous in preventing many infectious diseases. It has also contributed to a decrease in the mortality rate. Immunization is done through vaccines. Today, vaccines are available against smallpox, measles, tetanus, polio, etc.
Immunization and vaccines are administered to adults and infants through public health programs. In the case of infants, the pediatrician administers regular vaccinations that are set in a schedule.
Types of Vaccines
There are different types of vaccines. Each type serves a definite purpose. The design of each vaccine is that it teaches your immune system how to fight certain kinds of germs and the dangerous diseases they cause. Vaccines are prepared after lots of research in the laboratory. When scientists create a vaccine, they consider the following aspects:
How does the immune system respond to the germ?
Who requires vaccination against the germ?
The best technology to create the vaccine
Depending on these factors, a scientist decides the type of vaccine they need to develop. There are four main types of vaccines-
Live - Attenuated Vaccine – they use a weakened form of the germ that causes disease. These vaccines are similar to the natural infection that they prevent. They create a secure and long-lasting immune response. 1 or 2 doses of live vaccines are enough to give lifetime protection against a germ and the disease they cause. Examples are smallpox, chickenpox, yellow fever, rubella, and measles.
Inactivated vaccines use the killed or dead version of the germ that causes a disease. Inactivated vaccines typically do not provide immunity or protection as strong as live vaccines. One may need several doses or boosters shots over time so that the resistance stays against the diseases. Examples are Hepatitis A, Flu, Polio, and Rabies.
Polysaccharide, subunit and conjugate vaccines use specific parts of the germ like its protein, sugar, or capsid (casing or covering around the germ). As these vaccines use particular pieces of the germ, they give a powerful immune response that targets vital parts of the virus. One may need booster shots to keep the immunity steady. Examples are Hepatitis B, HPV, Whooping cough, Pneumococcal disease, and Shingles.
Toxoid vaccine uses a toxin or harmful product made by the germ that causes a disease. These vaccines create immunity against those parts of the germ that cause disease instead of the whole germ itself. It means that the protection or immune response is targeted at the toxin rather than the germ. One may need booster shots to get ongoing protection against diseases. Examples are Diphtheria and Tetanus.
Types of Ingredients in Vaccines
Vaccines differ depending upon the ingredients that are combined to prepare them. Each of the ingredients used to prepare a vaccine serves a different and specific purpose:
Provide protection or immunity to the body
Keep the vaccine safe, effective, and long-lasting
Providing material for the production of the vaccine and more
The various types of ingredients used to produce vaccines include:
Preservatives to prevent contamination
Adjuvants to help boost our bodies’ response to the vaccine
Stabilizers that help keep the vaccines effective post their manufacture
Residual cell culture materials that help grow enough of the bacteria or virus needed to make the vaccine
Residual inactivating ingredients to help kill inactivated toxins or kill viruses during the manufacturing process.
Infant Immunizations
Strong immunity or protection is a way to prevent diseases. This statement is especially applicable to newborns or small babies, who are yet to get the benefits of a grown-up’s immunity and preventive coping mechanisms against infections. When a baby is born, his or her immune system is not fully developed. It can put a child at a higher risk for infections. Administering vaccines and supplying immunization reduces the risk of infection by working with the natural defense to help develop protection, resistance, and immunity to diseases.
FAQs on Vaccination and Immunisation
1. What is the main difference between vaccination and immunisation?
Vaccination is the act of introducing a vaccine into the body, typically through an injection. Immunisation is the process that happens after vaccination, where your body builds up protection (immunity) against that specific disease. In simple terms, vaccination is the step, and immunisation is the resulting protection.
2. How does a vaccine actually work to protect the body?
A vaccine introduces a safe, weakened, or inactive part of a germ into your body. This isn't strong enough to make you sick, but it allows your immune system to recognise it. Your body then creates special proteins called antibodies and develops memory cells. If you encounter the real germ later, these memory cells quickly launch a defence to stop you from getting ill.
3. What are the different types of immunity?
There are two main types of immunity that protect us from diseases:
- Active Immunity: This is long-lasting immunity where your own body is stimulated to produce antibodies. It can happen naturally after recovering from an infection or artificially through vaccination.
- Passive Immunity: This is short-term protection from ready-made antibodies. For example, a baby receives passive immunity from its mother, or a person can be given an injection of antibodies (like an antiserum).
4. Why is getting vaccinated so important?
Vaccination is vital because it not only protects you from serious, sometimes deadly, diseases, but it also helps protect the entire community. When a high percentage of the population is vaccinated, it becomes difficult for a disease to spread. This is called herd immunity and it helps shield the most vulnerable, such as newborns and people with weak immune systems.
5. How can a vaccine with a weakened germ protect us from the real, powerful disease?
Think of it like a training exercise for your immune system. The weakened germ in a vaccine is like a practice opponent—it's not strong enough to win the fight (cause disease), but it teaches your body the enemy's tactics. Your immune system learns to recognise it and builds a defence plan by creating antibodies and memory cells. When the real, strong germ attacks, your body already knows exactly how to defeat it quickly.
6. Why do some vaccines require booster shots?
Booster shots are necessary for a couple of key reasons. Over time, the immune memory from an initial vaccine can fade, and a booster shot acts as a reminder to strengthen your body's defences. Additionally, some germs, like the flu virus, change over time. An annual booster ensures the vaccine is updated to fight the newest version of the virus.
7. What are some common examples of vaccines given to children?
Several vaccines are part of the standard immunisation schedule to protect children from dangerous diseases. Some common examples include:
- MMR vaccine: Protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
- Polio vaccine: Protects against the poliovirus.
- DPT vaccine: A combination vaccine that protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and Tetanus.
- BCG vaccine: Given at birth to protect against Tuberculosis.
8. What is the principle behind passive immunisation?
The principle of passive immunisation is to provide immediate, but temporary, protection by giving a person pre-formed antibodies. Unlike vaccination (active immunity), the body doesn't learn to make its own antibodies. This method is used when a person needs protection right away, such as after a snakebite (antivenom) or when a baby gets antibodies from its mother's milk.
