Vaccines: How it works with our Immune System

Abstract

            Vaccines and their effects on people have been a big controversial topic for many years now. People have been refusing to vaccinate their children due to the worries and suspicions that they will cause more major issues to their child.  A Vaccineis something that is introduced to a patient’s body to help their immune system recognize a specific infectious disease and hopefully prevent it from infecting if it ever comes in contact with that virus again. Vaccines are made from microbes. A microbe is a microorganism that causes disease. The microbes used for vaccinations are dead and inactive so they are unable to prevent disease, but allows the immune system to register it as dangerous and remember it for the future. Some vaccines may need booster shots years later. This means that the immune system may not remember the dangers of a disease that it’s been introduced for years before, so it needs a “boost” to fight it better when it starts to wear off. If enough people are vaccinated, it could eliminate a disease all together. While vaccines do protect individuals, it also gives ‘herd immunity.’ Herd Immunity is a collective community protection. This means that if enough people in a community is protected, it will help prevent the people who haven’t been vaccinated from getting the disease.