Vaccines: What Are They?
Vaccines are biological substances designed to provide protection against specific diseases. Vaccines contain either weakened or killed versions of the pathogens that cause a particular disease, such as viruses or bacteria. When the vaccine is administered, the body’s immune system recognizes the foreign material and produces an immune response to protect the body from infection.
Viruses or Bacteria: What Are Vaccines Made Of?
Vaccines can be made from either a virus or a bacteria. In some cases, a vaccine may contain a combination of both. Vaccines that contain live viruses are called live attenuated vaccines. This means that the virus has been weakened but is still able to reproduce in the body and stimulate an immune response. Vaccines made with killed viruses are called inactivated vaccines. These vaccines contain viruses that have been killed with heat, chemicals, or radiation, and they cannot reproduce in the body. Vaccines made with bacteria are called toxoids, and they contain toxins that have been modified to make them less harmful.
Are Vaccines Effective?
Vaccines are very effective at preventing infectious diseases. When given in a timely manner, vaccines can reduce the risk of serious illness and death from a variety of illnesses. Vaccines are also very safe, with minor side effects such as pain at the injection site, fever, and mild rash.
In conclusion, vaccines are biological substances designed to provide protection against specific diseases. They can be made from either a virus or a bacteria, and they are very effective at preventing infectious diseases.