What is the effect of vaccination?
Vaccinations are preventive protective measures against various infectious diseases. They simulate an infection and thus stimulate the formation of antibodies against certain diseases. A distinction is made between active and passive vaccinations.
In order to protect oneself against a bacterial or virus-related infectious disease, for example in the case of childhood diseases , vaccination is in many cases the only safe option. Depending on the type of disease and the pathogen, there are various methods to to achieve immunity.
Index
ToggleEffect of active and passive vaccination
During a vaccination, the vaccinated person is injected with a substance that is intended to ensure that pathogens cannot spread in the body and that the corresponding disease does not break out in the event of an infection. To achieve this goal, there are two different types of vaccines, active and passive.
Effect of active vaccination
Active vaccination is intended to achieve long-term vaccination protection. With this type of vaccination, the vaccine contains dead or weakened components of the respective pathogen, so-called antigens, which are intended to simulate an actual infection to the immune system. The body then mobilizes its defenses and actively forms antibodies against the supposed pathogens, which intercept them and thus prevent further spread, for example via the bloodstream.
In addition, the body forms so-called memory cells that “remember” the type of pathogen so that they can immediately stimulate the formation of suitable antibodies in the event of an actual infection.
The active vaccination must be administered several times at specific intervals in order to develop its full effect. Only after all partial vaccinations are there enough antibodies in the blood to reliably protect the body against the pathogen in the future. When that is the case, one speaks of immunity. In adulthood, many vaccinations are refreshed , for example every five or ten years, depending on their effectiveness , in order to “remember” the body’s defences.
Effect of passive vaccination
Passive vaccination is intended to provide immediate protection. It is given when the body is already infected with a pathogen and a long-term vaccination would not take effect quickly enough.
In passive immunization, concentrates of human antibodies are injected, which are obtained from the blood of people who have already had the disease in question and have survived it. In contrast to active vaccination, passive vaccination does not offer long-term protection, but loses its effect after a maximum of three months. Passive vaccinations are common , for example, for short-term trips to exotic countries or for acute illnesses during pregnancy, such as chickenpox .
simultaneous vaccination
In the case of simultaneous vaccination, the active and passive vaccination are administered simultaneously, i.e. at the same time. This procedure is intended to provide immediate protection against certain diseases (passive) and at the same time create long-lasting immunity (active) against the pathogen. Simultaneous vaccination is the usual treatment, for example, if rabies is suspected .
What is the effect of the vaccine?
As a rule, two types of vaccines are distinguished, which are used for active immunization. One category is the so-called live vaccines, the other the dead vaccines. The names of the two variants refer to the activity of the antigens contained in the vaccine.
Effect of live vaccine vaccinations
The live vaccine contains weakened but still reproducible components of the respective pathogen. Although these parts of the pathogen can no longer cause the disease, they sometimes result in symptoms that are similar to those of the actual disease, usually in a weaker form. One often hears, for example, of the so-called vaccine chickenpox. Immune patients should therefore not be vaccinated with a live vaccine, for example. Pregnant women should also refrain from live vaccination, since the antigens affect the fetus and can cause serious developmental defects.
The advantage of a live vaccine, however, is that in most cases lifelong immunity can be achieved and no boosters are necessary.
A live vaccine is, for example, immunization against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) .
Effect of vaccinations with inactivated vaccine
The inactivated vaccine also contains parts of the respective pathogens, which, however, have been killed beforehand and can therefore no longer multiply. Nevertheless, the administration of these antigens stimulates the immune system, whereupon it forms antibodies. However, after a dead vaccination, the antibody level slowly decreases again over time, so that booster vaccinations are necessary at regular intervals. Inactivated vaccines are now used in most of the publicly recommended vaccinations .
Before each vaccination, you should get detailed information from your doctor about the possible risks of the respective method and discuss possible alternatives.