Vaccines

Definition

Vaccines are biological preparations that provide immunity to specific viral infections. They stimulate the body's immune system to recognize and combat pathogens.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vaccines contain antigens derived from pathogens that trigger an immune response without causing disease.
2. There are different types of vaccines including live-attenuated, inactivated, subunit, and mRNA vaccines.
3. Vaccination helps in creating herd immunity, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated.
4. The development of vaccines involves rigorous clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy.
5. Adverse reactions to vaccines are generally rare and mild compared to the diseases they prevent.

Review Questions

• What components do vaccines use to stimulate an immune response?
• Explain the concept of herd immunity in the context of vaccination.
• What are two types of vaccines and how do they differ?

Related terms

Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response, often part of a pathogen like a virus or bacterium.

Herd Immunity:

A form of indirect protection from infectious diseases when a large percentage of a population becomes immune.

mRNA Vaccine: A type of vaccine that uses messenger RNA to instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response.