The Health | april, 2019
14
issue: Vaccine
A crash course
on vaccines
Here are all the information
about vaccine you should
know
W
hat is it?
A vaccine contains antigens
that are formulated using
parts or whole of virus or
bacteria, either killed or
weakened. It is used to induce
the body’s immune system to develop protective
immunity against specific diseases. Most vaccines are
in combinations to ease the administration process.
Combination vaccines are multiple vaccines combined
into a single injection so that children get protection
from multiple diseases in one shot.
What’s in it?
Vaccines may not
be 100 percent
effective. Different
people respond
differently to
vaccines, and it
is possible that
some people
may not generate
an adequate
immune response
to the vaccine.
As a result, these
individuals may
not be effectively
protected. There
are some vaccines
that need additional
doses to help raise
immunity against
specific diseases.
The protection
offered by vaccines
is better than no
protection at all."
Vaccines contain an active ingredient, the antigen.
Depending on their purpose and specific composi-
tion, vaccines can contain live viruses, killed viruses,
purified viral proteins, and inactivated bacterial toxins
or parts of the bacteria. They also contain additional
components such as preservatives, stabilisers,
adjuvants and traces of other components. Each
ingredient used in vaccines has a specific function
and contributes to the quality, safety and efficacy of
the product. Vaccines do not contain ingredients that
will harm the body.
How does it work?
A child’s body naturally produces cells and antibodies
to help protect against viruses and bacteria. However,
these defence mechanisms can be stimulated when a
vaccine is administered into the body. The antigens
in vaccines act to stimulate the immune system to
produce antibodies against specific diseases, thus
strengthening immunity by priming the defence cells
to recognize the particular virus or bacteria so that
they can better fight it in the future. The maximum
effect of the vaccine will usually only take place after
the last dose in the schedule has been administered.
Too young for immunisation?
Children are most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable
diseases due to their weaker immune system. Vaccines
help strengthen their immune system and protect
them from potentially life-threatening complica-
tions. Hence, it is highly recommended that children
are vaccinated as early as possible according to the
immunisation schedule.
Do vaccines really prevent diseases?
Through vaccination, Smallpox was successfully eradi-
cated. Smallpox was an untreatable disease with high
case fatality rate, cause scarring or blindness to the
survivors. Besides that, Poliomyelitis was eradicated
in three World Health Organisation (WHO) regions
which are America, Europe and Western Pacific
Region. Mortality for many vaccine preventable dis-
eases have been significantly reduced. Immunisation
makes the world a safer place by saving millions of
lives from diseases which are preventable. Without
immunisation, 2 to 3 million more people would die
every year from poliomyelitis, meningitis, diphthe-
ria and many other vaccine-preventable diseases.
We are protected from certain cancers by human
papilloma virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine,
which protect against cervical cancer and liver cancer
respectively.