B3- Fighting disease (vaccination)

• How have vaccinations changed the way we fight disease?

  They allow us to prevent diseases before they occur.
• What happens when you are infected with a new pathogen?

  Your white blood cells take a few days to learn how to deal with it.
• What does vaccination involve?

  Injecting small amounts of dead or weakened pathogens.
• What is the purpose of antibodies produced during vaccination?

  To attack the harmless pathogens introduced by the vaccine.
• What viruses are included in the MMR vaccine?

  Measles, mumps, and rubella.
• What happens if the same type of pathogens appear after vaccination?

  The white blood cells can rapidly mass-produce antibodies to kill off the pathogen.
• What is a significant benefit of vaccination in terms of disease outbreaks?

  It can prevent big outbreaks of disease, known as epidemics.
• What are the pros of vaccination?

  • Control of communicable diseases (e.g., polio, measles)
  • Smallpox no longer occurs
  • 99% reduction in polio infections
  • Prevention of epidemics through herd immunity
• What are the cons of vaccination?

  • Vaccines don’t always provide immunity
  • Possible bad reactions (e.g., swelling, fever, seizures)
  • Bad reactions are very rare