IMMUNISATION & VACCINATION
Immunisation is the
stimulation of the immune system against a disease agent. Once the immune
system has been stimulated against a microbe, it is ready for it the next
time the body comes into contact with it - it will prevent reinfection
Vaccination is an
artificial form of immunisation - challenges the immune system with a form
of the microbe which is unable to cause disease
Vaccine may be :
● weakened (attenuated)
form of microbe
● parts of the
microbe (antigens)
● similar species
which does not cause disease
Many microbes constantly change
their antigens to evade our immune system - need booster shots (eg. influenza,
cold viruses)
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© 2004 Dr Peter Darben