Vaccines

• Antigen


  Protein on the outside of a cell that identifies it as foreign or belonging to the body
• Antibody


  Protein produced by white blood cells (B lymphocytes) to destroy viruses and bacteria
• Pathogen


  Any disease-causing microorganism
• Vaccine


  The physical injection that goes into the body
• Vaccination


  The process of receiving the vaccine
• Immunization


  The end result of the vaccine interacting with the immune system
• Active immunity


  When the body is exposed to and responds to a pathogen
• Passive immunity


  When antibodies are obtained from someone else, such as through breastfeeding or an antibody serum
• Immune response to vaccines with dead/weakened pathogens

  1. Injection with dead/weakened bacteria or virus

  2. Triggers immune response to produce antibodies

  3. Creates immunological memory
• Immune response to mRNA vaccines

  1. Inject mRNA that codes for pathogen antigen

  2. Cells produce antigen

  3. Immune system produces antibodies

  4. Creates immunological memory
• Vaccination


  The physical process of receiving the vaccine
• Vaccines allow the body to create antibodies and immunological memory to fight off pathogens quickly and efficiently without serious symptoms