Index
What are vaccines for?
Vaccines have three main purposes that characterize them as one of the most important agents for the preservation of health: They serve to:
- Boost the immune system
- Improve Life Quality
- Protect the population
They serve to boost the immune system
Vaccines are used to help the immune system to fight against possible infections by viruses, cocci and other pathogens. This is accomplished by weakened or destroyed viruses or bacteria and other microorganisms . The immune system learns to recognize and attack them , in the event that an invasion of them occurs in the body.
In this way, the body will know how to protect itself against infections. Therefore, it is so important to get vaccinated at an early age and to reinforce its effects throughout life, despite having a good state of health.
They give an improve the quality of life
Vaccines have been used since their discovery to improve humanity’s quality of life. In the modern era, it is the right of children of all nations to receive “predetermined” vaccines, which are specified according to age and health status.
The vaccines to be applied will also depend on the conditions and the environment in which the infants develop. Ten years ago, for example, the AH1N1 flu vaccine was established as a requirement, after the epidemic that threatened to become a pandemic. Children and the elderly are the vulnerable population, and therefore they need to neutralize the virus, to be prepared to face it.
Help protect the population
Vaccines are applied according to the requirements of the population
Vaccines usually vary from country to country, according to the protection requirements that are created necessary by health systems. For example, currently in Mexico, a newborn baby is given different vaccines within the first six months of life that have increased its survival rate.
These default vaccines are:
- Hepatitis B Vaccine : Serves to prevent type B Hepatitis.
- Sabin Poliomyelitis Vaccine : Serves to prevent polio, as long as it is injected before infection occurs.
- Rotavirus Vaccine : Helps prevent rotavirus, which causes childhood diarrhea.
- MMR and SR MMR vaccine : It works against rubella, measles and mumps.
- BCG vaccine : Serves to prevent tuberculosis infections.
- Pneumococcal vaccine : Helps increase defenses against pneumococcus.
- Pentavalent vaccine : It works against typhoid, pertussis and tetanus.
- DPT vaccine : like the previous one, it works against typhoid, whooping cough and tetanus.
- Td vaccine : Serves as a preventive against tetanus and diphtheria.
- Influenza Vaccine : Strengthens the immune system against the AH1N1 influenza virus.
- Tdpa vaccine : It serves as a booster against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; it is used in pregnant women.
- HPV vaccine : helps to strengthen the immune system against the human papillomavirus.
In countries like the South American Chile , only the application of three vaccines is promoted as mandatory :
- BCG vaccine : Against tuberculosis
- Pentavalent vaccine : Against whooping cough, tetanus and typhoid
- Oral polio vaccine : To prevent polio. It is the weakened virus, which gets into the body.
Although more efforts are being made today to vaccinate children because they are considered more vulnerable to infection, vaccines are not exclusive . Adults are also prone to infection, although, unlike children, they have had a greater use of vaccines, to treat diseases, recover more quickly, or prepare for surgery.
Preparation of vaccines
Vaccines, to enter the body, can be prepared by four different methods:
- Vacunas avirulentas
- Posted vaccines
- Purified antigen vaccines
- Genetic vaccines
Vaccines are produced according to the disease to be fought.
Vacunas avirulentas
They are conceived by non-dangerous means of the pathogenic microorganism to be extinguished. For example, most of the vaccines that prevent the spread of transmission diseases such as smallpox, AH1N1 influenza and some coconuts, among others, are made by extruding some supplements of these viruses in order to eliminate them, prevent their transmission. and even its mutation.
Posted vaccines
They are obtained from the pathogen that is planned to attack, when it is dead or in a state of inactivity, taking this reaction to neutralize it in the infected agent.
Purified antigen vaccines
They are antibodies that have been designed under complex laboratory processes, with a specific purpose: strengthening the immune system or providing certain nutrients to an organ or body function.
Genetic vaccines
They have emerged as one of the latest advances in biomedicine. These are agents modified by means of their own genetic material . Its production process is the most complex among all vaccines, and results in a mutation of the virus, with which it works by introducing specific elements of other viruses for the preparation of an antidote, among other purposes.
Application of vaccines
The most common way to administer vaccines is through injections.
It is wrong to think that all vaccines come in injectable solution, since there are several methods of administration:
- Subcutaneous injections
- Intramuscular injections
- Oral drops
- Eye drops
- Ear drops
- Inhalable
Laboratories study the best absorption mechanisms of vaccines, according to the organism of each patient.
Vaccines are then created in presentation of:
- Grageas
- Liquids for oral consumption
These modalities help to prevent children from refusing to be vaccinated, fearing syringe needles.
Dr. Samantha Robson ( CRN: 0510146-5) is a nutritionist and website content reviewer related to her area of expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Nutrition from The University of Arizona, she is a specialist in Sports Nutrition from Oxford University and is also a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
