The Immune System And Vaccines

The immune system recognizes vaccine agents as foreign, destroys them, and "remembers" them. When the virulent version of an agent is encountered, the body recognizes the protein coat on the virus, and thus is prepared to respond, by first neutralizing the target agent before it can enter cells, and secondly by recognizing and destroying infected cells before that agent can multiply to vast numbers.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. Anthrax is more common in developing countries and countries that do not have veterinary public health programs that routinely vaccinate animals against anthrax. Anthrax is very uncommon for people in the United States to get infected with anthrax. People get infected with anthrax when spores get into the body. When anthrax spores get inside the body, they can be “activated.” When they become active, the bacteria can multiply, spread out in the body, produce toxins (poisons), and cause severe illness.

Adenoviruses are common viruses that cause a range of illness. They can cause cold-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and pink eye (conjunctivitis). You can get an adenovirus infection at any age.

Tubercle Bacillus - Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB). In countries where tuberculosis or leprosy is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as close to the time of birth as possible.

The DPT vaccine (DPT) is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

Tetanus vaccine, also known as tetanus toxoid (TT), is an inactive vaccine used to prevent tetanus.

The MMR vaccine is a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella.

Meningococcal vaccine refers to any of the vaccines used to prevent infection by Neisseria meningitidis.

Pneumococcal vaccines are vaccines against the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Their use can prevent some cases of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.

Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV).

The rabies vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent rabies. Rabies is commonly caused by a dog bite or a bat bite.

Rotavirus vaccine is a vaccine used to protect against rotavirus infections, which are the leading cause of severe diarrhea among young children.

Typhoid vaccines are vaccines that prevent typhoid fever. 

Varicella vaccine, also known as chickenpox vaccine, is a vaccine that protects against chickenpox.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine is a vaccine that protects against Japanese encephalitis.

Influenza vaccines, also known as flu shots or flu jabs, are vaccines that protect against infection by influenza viruses.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus. It is estimated that the vaccines may prevent 70% of cervical cancer, 80% of anal cancer, 60% of vaginal cancer, 40% of vulvar cancer and possibly some mouth cancer. They additionally prevent some genital warts, with the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines that protect against HPV types HPV-6 and HPV-11 providing greater protection.

Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Twinrix is a vaccine against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. The full generic name is hepatitis A inactivated & hepatitis B (recombinant) vaccine.