3.3.16

Vaccination

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Vaccination

Vaccination is the main technique for helping the immune system recognise and destroy pathogens. Immunising (making immune) a large proportion of the population will make it very hard for a pathogen to be spread. The process of vaccination is:

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Inject a dead pathogen

  • A vaccination injects a dead or inactive form of a pathogen into the blood.
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Immune system recognition

  • White blood cells recognise that the antigens are foreign and produce antibodies against them.
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Memory cells

  • Some of these white blood cells called memory lymphocytes remain in the blood as memory cells. If the same pathogen invades the body again, the memory lymphocytes can:
    • Produce antibodies faster.
    • Produce more antibodies. This means that the antibody concentration remains in the blood for longer.
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Immunity

  • Next time the same pathogen infects the vaccinated person, the immune system will destroy it before it can cause illness.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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