What diseases do vaccines prevent?

It is important to vaccinate infants early and complete the full vaccination schedule from infancy to adulthood because it reduces the spread of vaccine preventable diseases and outbreak breaks. Thus protecting you and others (4).

On the CDC schedule there are 17 on the standard vaccination schedule from birth to 18 years old (3):

• Diphtheria, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib disease, is a major cause of bacterial meningitis), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV is a major cause for cervical and other cancers), Influenza (Flu), Measles, Meningococcal, Mumps, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Pneumococcal (causes bacterial meningitis and blood infections), Polio, Rotavirus, Rubella (German Measles), Tetanus (Lockjaw), and Varicella (Chickenpox) (3).
• Meningococcal B is on the CDC schedule however, this vaccine will3 depend on the clinic or doctor’s office you go to and if they carry it (3).  In addition to the 17 previously mentioned on the adult schedule there is an additional vaccine for Shingles (Herpes Zooster) for which there is an option for a live attenuated or recombinant vaccine (1)

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There are other vaccines available for:

Cholera – there is a vaccine for cholera in the US that has been approved by the FDA called Vaxchora (lyophilized CVD 103-HgR). It is a live attenuated vaccine and a single vaccine for adults 18 -64 years’ old who are traveling to an area that has active cholera transmission or is endemic. Endemic means that a place has regularly reported outbreaks (7).

Rabies – There is a vaccine for rabies, however, it is recommended for high risk groups such as veterinaries, animal handlers, and certain laboratory workers. However, being vaccinated does not mean that one should not seek immediate medical attention after being exposed to rabies (9).

Anthrax – there is a vaccine available to prevent anthrax, however, this is not typically available to the general public and really only available for people who are at increased risk of coming into contact with or have already came into contact with it (2).  

Typhoid – There is a vaccine for Typhoid fever that may help to prevent it, however the CDC only recommends this vaccine to people who are travelling to places where typhoid fever is common, such as South Asia, India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh. There are two types available in the US. The oral vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine able to given to people at least 6 years of age and consist of four pills that need to be taken every other day and should be finished at least 1 week before travel. There is an injectable vaccine that is an inactivated type and is able to be given to people at least to people at least 2 years of age and should be given at least 2 weeks before travel. However, keep in that the vaccine is not 100% effective and the CDC recommends to practice safe eating and drinking habits to help prevent infection. Either way if someone does get vaccinated the vaccine losses its effectiveness over and boosters are required every 2 years for the injectable and every 5 years for the oral vaccine (8). 

Tuberculosis – There is a vaccine called Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis (TB). However, in the united states it is not used in the US, but it is given to infants and children in other countries where TB is common. This vaccine does not always protect people from contracting TB and immunity wears off. However, the BCG vaccine is recommended for health care workers who may might chance of coming into with them. Since there is a high percentage of TB patients with TB strains that resistant drug resistant (10).

Yellow fever – There is a safe and effective yellow fever vaccine that has been available for more than 80 years and recommended for those ages 9 months or older and are traveling or living in areas with high risks for yellow in Africa and South America. Sometimes this vaccine may be required in order to enter certain countries. The vaccine itself is a live attenuated form of the virus and only is one shot (10).

Ebola – the FDA approved the first Ebola vaccine called Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) on December 19, 2019. The vaccine is a single dose vaccine and has been found to be safe. The vaccine protects against only Zaire ebolavirus species of ebolavirus and not the others (4).  

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 03). Adult Immunization Schedule by Vaccine and Age Group. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, November 22). Anthrax Vaccination. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/anthrax/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 03). Birth-18 Years Immunization Schedule. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, November 15). Prevention and Vaccine. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/prevention/index.html
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, March 15). Vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/vaccines.htm
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, July 12). Vaccines: Vac-Gen/10 Things You Need to Know. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/10-shouldknow.htm
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, May 15). Vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/vaccines.html
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, January 03). Vaccination. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/typhoid-vaccination.html
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, March 10). Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Rabies/main page. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rabies/
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, January 06). Yellow Fever Vaccine. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/vaccine/index.html  

Do Vaccines have side effects?

Any medication can cause minor side effects and vaccines are no different (2). However, it does not make them any less safe. Vaccines are safe and their side effects are usually minor as well as temporary (3). Vaccines may cause low grade fever, pain or redness at the site of injection, or a rash. Even slight discomfort is normal (2). While rare, sever or long lasting side effects are extremely rare (1).

Vaccines are safe. Any licensed vaccine is rigorously tested across multiple trials phases before being approved for use. After being approved they are regularly monitored and assessed. Scientist are also constantly monitoring information for signs that the vaccine is causing a health risk (2). If your child does have a serious reaction, then you should call your doctor immediately. Make sure to write down what happened, along with the date and time that it occurred. Then ask your doctor to file a VAERS, or a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (1).

If a vaccine is suspected to have a problem, then a thorough investigation will take place. During an investigation they will thoroughly examine the case which reported the problem, which includes a medical assessment, and if needed studies are conducted (4). However, during these investigations it is extremely rare that the health problem was caused by the vaccine. Instead health events are usually found to be coincidental and unrelated to the vaccine (4). Other times though it could be to how the vaccine has been stored, transported or administered and can be prevented in the future by proper training, and improving vaccination programs. There are rare cases where a genuine adverse reaction is suspected from a vaccine. In these cases, further investigation will happen in order to determine the cause in order to correct it (4).  

Keep in mind that a person is more likely to be hurt by a vaccine preventable disease than the vaccine that protects them. Many vaccine preventable disease may result in death without being vaccinated. Therefore, the benefits of being vaccinated vastly outweigh the risks that come with not being vaccinated (3).

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, July 12). Vaccines: Vac-Gen/10 Things You Need to Know. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/10-shouldknow.htm
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, April 02). Vaccines: Vac-Gen/Side Effects. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm
3. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Q&A on vaccines. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.who.int/vaccines/questions-and-answers
4. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Q&A on vaccine safety. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-vaccine-safety

What are the differences between active and passive immunity?

The job of our immune system is protect us from getting sick (2). It protects us from harmful substances, pathogens, and any changes in our cells (3). Our bodies are made up with different organs and systems, for example the lymph nodes. Our skin is the first layer of defense against any pathogen and serves as a mechanical protective wall. Even our own saliva has enzymes that is able to destroy the walls of some bacteria (4). The primary lymph organs, such as the bone marrow, thymus, and thymus gland that are involved with the immunity are responsible for controlling the production and maturation of our defense cells called lymphocytes (4).

The body’s immune system will become activated by different things that it does not recognize, which are called antigens. Antigens can be proteins from the surface of the bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Why they are become attached to special receptors on immune cells a serious of processes are triggered. If the body has not come into contact with that particular disease before then memory is created so next time the body is able to fight it off faster (3).  

There are two types of immune, Innate (or non-specific) and adaptive immune system. The innate immune system provides general defense against harmful germs and substances. Its main job is to fight off disease. While the adaptive (or specific) immunity will create antibodies and use these to fight off specific disease that the body came into contact with previously (3). The adaptive can be further subcategorized into active and passive immunity. Active immunity is created by one’s own immune system when exposed to pathogen, either by the air being breath in, the food eaten, or things touched. When our active immunity fights off a pathogen it will create memory with B and T cells that are bale to recognize a specific pathogen. Our memory cells are very important because they allow our immune system to respond quickly and they have specificity. Meaning they are specific for a single pathogen (2). Active immunity is long lasting and often times lifelong. Vaccines will induce a person’s active immunity when exposed to the pathogen (killed, weakened, or parts of it) through injection and treat it as if it was like any regular infection and crates memory (1,2). However, vaccines are developed as to not cause disease but still maintain the benefit of exposure without the associated risks that is associated with the natural infection (2). 

Passive immunity on the other hand is provided when a person is “give” antibodies to a disease rather than producing them on their own through their own immune system. Therefore, passive immunity only lasts for a few weeks or months and it is not long lasting like active immunity. An example is a new born acquires passive immunity form their mother through breast milk. The mothers breast milk contains antibodies that protect the intestinal surface (immunoglobulin A or IgA). Which is why in this period where a mother transfers her antibodies to her baby is suggested at least until the baby’s immune system is able to produce its own protection (1,2). 

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, March 10). Vaccines: Vac-Gen/Immunity Types. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/immunity-types.htm
2. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2019, April 16). Types of Immunity. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/human-immune-system/types-immunity
3. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (2019, November 07). How does the immune system work? Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279364/
4. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (2016, January 20). What are the organs of the immune system? Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279395/

How do vaccines prevent disease?

Vaccines work by reducing the risk of contracting a disease by working with the body’s natural defenses in order to build protection and memory. The immune system will respond by first recognizing the invading pathogen that introduced through the injection (or other route like nasal spray). It will continue on to produce antibodies, which are proteins that are naturally made by our immune system (1). These antibodies are specific for the disease they were created from so when they come into contact with them again they are able to protect you from it faster. However, vaccines do not cause the disease for which they protect against. Therefore, vaccines are safe because they provide protection without the consequence of illness and vaccines (2).

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012, March 14). Basics of Vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vpd-vac-basics.html
2. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Q&A on vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.who.int/vaccines/questions-and-answers

Can vaccines overload my baby's immune system?

In a survey parents of 13, 000 children 8 to 35 months old, the most common hesitancy they had towards vaccines was their concerns about side effects (4). Vaccines protect us throughout our life, birth to adulthood (3). While Infants Immune systems are not fully developed and by not vaccinating them you are putting them at risk for infection they able to handle to number the number of antigens in a single vaccine (1).  The reason for this is because they are exposed to thousands of germs every day in the environment and those have more antigens than what comes from vaccines (1). Scientific evidence shows that giving several vaccines at the same time has no negative effect (3). Even if all 14 vaccines were to be given at the same time the, then infants would only use slightly more 0.1% of their immune system. The immune system could never really be overwhelmed because the cells in the system is always being replenished (2).  

Also, the use of combination vaccines when possible it also decreases the number of injections and discomfort that child needs to go through (3). While there are more vaccines today that is because they have been improved and actually have less antigens in them (2). The CDC schedule is safe and recommended to keep you and others protected (1).  

Resources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, August 05). Making the Vaccine Decision: Common Concerns. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/why-vaccinate/vaccine-decision.html
Public Health, S. (2020, April 29). Vaccine Myths Debunked. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccine-myths-debunked/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Q&A on vaccines. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.who.int/vaccines/questions-and-answers
Ventola C.L (2016). Immunization in the United States: Recommendations, Barriers, and Measures to Improve Compliance: Part 1: Childhood Vaccinations. P & T: a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 41(7), 426–436

Why should I get vaccinated?

Abigail Adams the wife of John Adams the second first lady in the history of this country Abigail Adam also influenced those around her when in 1775 she had herself and her children inoculated against smallpox (3). Inoculation, or proto vaccine, can be also found in early society like those of the china in the year 1,000 (4).

(2)

With such a long practice of proto vaccine followed by the vaccine itself, it really is a wonder why people still are not vaccinated in countries that financially have the means to do so. The reasons are clear to immunize keeping you and your family safe, a good review of the facts is always a good place to start. There is also the concern that the treatment for vaccine preventable diseases are horribly expensive. Adults that contract hepatitis A, miss a month of work on average. Although vaccines in large part prevent the disease they protect against, they are prophylactic and require all citizens worldwide to partake to maximize heard immunity. We need vaccines to keep us safe and health and this begins in infancy. In a combination of a healthy diet along with proper amounts of exercise, vaccinations round out a complete program to maintain health (1). 

¹10 Reasons To Get Vaccinated. (2020, April 9). Retrieved May 6, 2020, from https://www.nfid.org/immunization/10-reasons-to-get-vaccinated/

²Abigail Adams (1744. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2020, from https://www.nps.gov/adam/learn/historyculture/abigail-adams-1744-1818.htm

³Adams, J., Hogan, M. A., & Taylor, C. J. (2010). My dearest friend: letters of Abigail and John Adams. Cambridge, MA: Belknap.

⁴All Timelines Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2020, from https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline/al