Immunization

 Immunization

What is immunization?

It is defined as the procedure by which the body is prepared to fight against a specific

disease. WHO defines immunization as “the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine” Vaccines help to protect against many disease. ex.  Rabies, PPR, FMD etc.

Immunizing agent

1.                 vaccine
2.                 immunoglobulins
3.                 antisera

Vaccination Vs Immunization

Ø Vaccination: it is the term used for getting a vaccine -that is, actually getting an injection or taking an oral dose.

 

Ø Immunization: it refers to the process of both getting the vaccine and becoming immune to the disease following vaccination.

 

How does the body become immune against a disease?

Our body become immune against a disease by:

1. Active immunization

•                          following clinical infection
•                          following subclinical infection  
•                         following vaccination  

2. Passive immunization

•  Transfer of maternal antibodies through placenta transfer of maternal antibodies.
•  transfer of maternal antibodies through milk
• following administration of immunoglobulin or antiserum

Immunity is gained mainly through; clinical infection (disease) and vaccination.

Immunity by exposure to disease

When you get sick, your body makes antibodies to fight the disease to help you get better. These antibodies stay in your body even after the disease is gone, and protects you from getting the same illness again. However, you don’t have to get sick to develop immunity. You can gain immunity against disease through immunization (vaccination).

 

Immunity by vaccination

Vaccination protects people from disease by introducing a vaccine into the body that triggers an immune response, just as through you had been exposed to a disease naturally. The vaccine contains the same antigens that cause the disease, but the antigens in vaccines are either killed or greatly weakened. Vaccine work because they trick your body into thinking it is being attacked by the actual disease. Immunity through immunization (vaccination) happens without the consequence of being ill and without the risk of potential life threatening complications from the disease. Once a person is immunized, specific immune cells called memory cells prevent re-infection when they encounter that disease again in the future.

Why immunization?

Ø Immunization is a preventive measure.

Ø It is better to avoid from falling ill than to treat them after being ill.

Ø Suffering, disability and death are avoided.

No hospitalization