How does Vaccines Works in our Body
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis A, influenza (flu), measles, mumps, and others. Most of us have been vaccinated against these diseases in our childhoods—and many of us may not even realize it. But why do vaccines work? Learn more about how vaccinations work in the body below.
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Components of a vaccine
Vaccines work by protecting us against harmful viruses, bacteria, or other organisms. They work by injecting a person with a dead or modified form of the virus. As that person's immune system fights off the harmless virus, the immune system is also preparing to fight the live, or actual, virus. If you are ever exposed to the disease, your immune system is primed and ready to fight it off, because it has done so before.
The components of an injection
Vaccines are usually given as injections, but can also be given as nasal sprays. The injection delivers the vaccine into the muscle or fatty tissue below the skin. From there, it enters the bloodstream and begins to work.
What does Vaccination effect in our immune system
Immunization helps generate antibodies to protect your body from specific diseases. For example, when a person receives the measles vaccine, their immune system generates an antibody for fighting off measles before they are ever exposed to it. Immunization does not only have effects on your immune system, but also on different body parts. The effects can vary depending on what disease you are trying to fight off and what part of your body is being targeted. There is evidence that immunizations do make a difference in your child's intelligence level which means they will be more protected against illnesses throughout life.
Vaccination schedule
Most vaccinations are given in a series, meaning that you need more than one dose to be fully protected. The number of doses and the time between them varies depending on the disease. For example, you need three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine to be fully protected, but only two doses of the flu vaccine.
Different types of vaccinations
Vaccines work by tricking your body into thinking that you have been infected with a virus, so it will start to produce protective antibodies. The body will produce these antibodies for some time, so if you do get exposed to the virus or bacteria later on, the body has already created an army of cells to fight back.
To make this happen, vaccines contain attenuated or inactive versions of these viruses and bacteria. They may also contain other substances such as antibiotics which are used to prevent bacteria from developing resistance against them.
The flu shot
One of the most common vaccines is the flu shot. The flu shot contains an inactivated virus that can’t infect you. When this vaccine enters your body, it helps your immune system create antibodies against the flu. These antibodies provide protection against infection from the live, attenuated virus in the vaccine. The next time you’re exposed to the flu, these antibodies will help your body fight off infection.
Immunizations around the world
Vaccines are a critical part of protecting people from diseases. They work by helping the body build immunity to a virus or bacteria. When someone is vaccinated, they are exposed to a small amount of the virus or bacteria. This helps the body build up immunity to that particular disease.