VACCINES AND ITS TYPES

What are Vaccines?

 

A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity of a person and prepares it  to fight for a particular disease. When a person is inoculated with the vaccines, the immune system initiates the primary response of the body against  these harmless versions of the germs. 

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Ways to develop the Vaccine:

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There are three main approaches to develop a vaccine:

1. By using whole pathogens such as viruses or bacteria.

2. By using just a part of the virus/ bacteria.

3. By using the genetic material of the causing pathogen, they provide  the instructions for making specific proteins. 

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WHOLE MICROBE APPROACH:

• Inactivated vaccine:

  • This technique involves use of either dead or inactive causing organisms. They are inactivated using chemicals, heat or chemicals.

  • However, they take more time to produce their results and need two/ three doses of the vaccines.

  • Example: Polio virus 

• Live- attenuated vaccine:

  • This technique involves the use of a living or weakened version of  virus or bacteria.

  • Examples: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the chickenpox.