Infection and Host Resistance: Lesson III

VACCINES IN THE ELIMINATION OF DISEASE

1 CONCEPT OF VACCINATION

Key Terms related to Vaccination

1. IMMUNITY: When your body learns how to fight a disease, it becomes immune
to it, which means you are less likely to get sick from that disease.
2. HERD IMMUNITY: Happens when people in a community are protected from a
disease, either because they got vaccinated or they already had the disease and
got better.
3. DISEASE ERADICATION: Means completely getting rid of a disease from
everywhere in the world.

● BASIC MECHANISM ON HOW VACCINE WORKS

As a vaccine is given as a shot or injected:
1. RECOGNITION BY IMMUNE SYSTEM: Acts like body's defense force,
recognizes these pieces of the germ as invaders.
2. IMMUNE RESPONSE: It produces special proteins called antibodies that are
designed to fight that particular germ.
3. LEARNING AND MEMORY: If you're exposed to the real, strong germ, it can
quickly recognize it and fight it off effectively.
4. LONG-TERM PROTECTION: It prevents you from getting sick or reduces the
severity of the illness when in contact with the actual disease-causing germ.

● 2 COMMON TYPES OF VACCINES TO PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Live Attenuated
Inactivated Vaccine

Live Attenuated Vaccine

Composition: Live attenuated vaccines are made from weakened, live forms of the
disease-causing microorganisms (usually viruses or bacteria). These organisms are
modified in a laboratory to make them less harmful.

Immune Response: When a live attenuated vaccine is administered, the weakened

microorganisms can replicate in the body, causing a mild infection. This mild infection
triggers a strong and long-lasting immune response.

Effectiveness: They closely mimic a natural infection, so the immune system

remembers how to fight the real disease.
Examples: Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the oral polio vaccine (OPV),
and the yellow fever vaccine.

Inactivated Vaccine
Composition: Inactivated vaccines, also known as killed vaccines, are made from
microorganisms that have been completely killed or inactivated. These microorganisms
cannot replicate or cause disease.

Immune Response: When an inactivated vaccine is administered, it contains pieces of

the killed microorganisms or proteins from them. These pieces stimulate the immune
system to produce an immune response.

Effectiveness: Inactivated vaccines may require multiple doses or booster shots to

achieve and maintain immunity. The immune response they induce may not be as
strong or long-lasting as that of live attenuated vaccines.

Examples: Common examples of inactivated vaccines include the polio vaccine

(injected, also known as IPV), the hepatitis A vaccine, and the influenza vaccine (flu
shot).

2 IMPORTANCE OF VACCINE IN PREVENTING DISEASES

● Herd Immunity
Herd immunity, also known as community immunity. It is a crucial concept in public
health and vaccination. It occurs when a high percentage of individuals within a
community or population become immune to a particular infectious disease, either
through vaccination or previous infection. This collective immunity helps protect
vulnerable populations who are unable to receive vaccines due to medical reasons or
are at a higher risk of severe complications.

● How Herd Immunity works?

1. High Vaccination Rates: When a significant portion of the population is
vaccinated against a disease, it becomes challenging for the disease to spread
within that community because there are fewer susceptible individuals for the
virus or bacteria to infect.
2. Breaking the Chain of Transmission: Vaccinated individuals act as barriers or
shields, interrupting the chain of transmission. When a vaccinated person is
exposed to the disease, their immune system quickly recognizes and fights it off,
preventing further spread.
 3. Protecting Vulnerable Groups: Vulnerable populations, such as infants who are
too young to be vaccinated, individuals with certain medical conditions that
contraindicate vaccination, and the elderly, are at higher risk of severe illness or
complications from infectious diseases. Herd immunity helps protect them
because the disease is less likely to be present in the community.

Importance in Protecting Vulnerable Groups

1. Infants: Babies are often too young to receive some vaccines, like those for
measles or whooping cough. Herd immunity reduces the risk of these diseases
reaching infants.

2. Individuals with Medical Conditions: Some people, due to medical conditions

or allergies, cannot receive vaccines safely. Herd immunity offers protection to
them.
3. Elderly: Older individuals often have weaker immune systems and may not
respond as well to vaccines. Herd immunity helps shield them from diseases like
the flu.

● VACCINE HESITANCY
So here are some common reasons on why people are hesitant to be vaccinated:

SAFETY CONCERNS
● Worries about vaccine side effects.
● Misunderstandings about vaccine ingredients, such as preservatives or
adjuvants.
● Fears of long-term health consequences.
MISINFORMATION
● Spread of false information on social media and websites.
● Lack of trust in government or healthcare authorities.
● Misleading anecdotes and narratives about vaccine risks.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
● Some religious groups have objections to vaccines due to moral or ethical
concerns.
● Conflicts between faith and vaccination can be a barrier.

3 CURRENT VACCINATION PROGRAMS

Here are some of the current vaccination programs:

● COVID-19 VACCINATION
COVID-19 vaccination programs have been implemented worldwide to combat the
coronavirus pandemic. These programs involve the distribution and administration of
vaccines developed to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Efforts include mass
vaccination campaigns, prioritizing healthcare workers, the elderly, and high-risk
populations.
● INFLUENZA VACCINATION
Seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns are conducted annually to reduce the spread
and impact of seasonal flu viruses. These programs often target vulnerable populations,
including the elderly and individuals with certain medical conditions.
● CHILDHOOD VACCINATION
Routine childhood vaccination programs continue to protect children from a range of
vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and more.
These programs are essential to maintain herd immunity.
● Human Papillomavirus (HPV) VACCINATION
HPV vaccination programs aim to prevent cervical and other cancers caused by the
human papillomavirus. Typically, these programs target preadolescent and adolescent
populations.
● Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) VACCINATION
Booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are important to maintain immunity
against these diseases, particularly for adults and pregnant women.

COVID 19-VACCINATION PROGRAM

This program aims to achieve the following goals:

Vaccine Development and Approval: It involves the development of safe and

effective vaccines against COVID-19. Multiple vaccine candidates were
researched, developed, and tested in clinical trials to ensure their safety and
efficacy. Regulatory agencies like the FDA (U.S.), EMA (Europe), and WHO
played a vital role in reviewing and approving these vaccines for emergency use
or full authorization.
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Global Distribution and Allocation: Vaccines are distributed and allocated to
countries based on purchase agreements with manufacturers, contracts with
pharmaceutical companies, and participation in initiatives like COVAX. The
objective is to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all countries, regardless of
their income levels.

Vaccine Rollout and Administration: Vaccination centers and clinics are set up
to administer the vaccines. Countries implement mass vaccination campaigns to
ensure efficient distribution and coverage. High-priority groups, such as
healthcare workers and the elderly, are usually among the first to receive
vaccines.

Challenges and Considerations: Challenges in the program include

addressing vaccine hesitancy, combating misinformation, and overcoming
logistical hurdles to ensure that vaccines reach even the most remote areas.
Adapting to new variants of the virus also remains a concern.
Achievements: As of September 2021, millions of people worldwide had received at
least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Many countries reported a decline in COVID-19
cases and hospitalizations as vaccination coverage increased, demonstrating the
program's effectiveness.

COVID-19 vaccines offer critical benefits, including highly effective prevention of severe
illness, hospitalization, and death, contributing to herd immunity, aiding economic
recovery, and bolstering global public health efforts. However, they may come with mild
side effects for some individuals and have faced challenges like vaccine hesitancy and
misinformation.