A vaccine is a biological drug that helps the immune system resist various infectious diseases. Medical Immunology Centers of the Russian Federation advise to vaccinate children from an early age. The very first vaccination (for hepatitis) is given in the first 12 hours of a child's life, and then the vaccination takes place according to the schedule of the vaccination certificate that each person has.
The following types of vaccines are distinguished:
- live;
- inactivated;
- toxoids;
- biosynthetic.
Live vaccines
The composition of such preparations includes weakened microorganisms. This group includes vaccines against polio, mumps, tuberculosis, measles and rubella. The disadvantage of live vaccines is the high chance of an allergic reaction, which can lead to severe complications and consequences.
Inactivated vaccines
They are divided into two subspecies. The former include those containing killed microorganisms, such as pertussis, hepatitis A, or rabies vaccines. The disadvantage is that their action lasts no more than a year. The reason for this may betechnological denaturation of antigens.
The second type is drugs that contain a component of the cell wall or other exciting parts of the body. These include vaccines for pertussis or meningitis.
Anatoxins
As part of this kind of drugs there is a poison (an inactivated toxin) produced by special bacteria. Diphtheria or tetanus vaccines belong to this category. These vaccines can last up to five years.
Biosynthetic
These drugs are obtained using genetic engineering methods. For example, hepatitis B vaccines fall into this category.
It is worth noting that the production of vaccines is a rather complex and time-consuming process that requires a lot of effort and precise calculations.
Vaccine differences
The types of vaccines are distinguished by the number of antigens that are in their composition. A distinction is made between monovaccines and polyvalent vaccines.
There are also differences in species composition: bacterial, viral and rickettsial vaccines.
Recently, new vaccines have been created that are gaining massive popularity. In addition, a lot of effort from scientific researchers and developers goes into the creation of synthetic, anti-idiotypic or recombinant drugs.
Phages
Phages are viruses that enter a bacterial cell and reproduce there. As a result, the body temperature of the patient with fever decreases and lysis occurs.
Based on these phages, scientists have developed bacteriophages thatused for phage prophylaxis or phage therapy. The advantage of phage therapy is the ability to selectively lyse a large number of microbes.
Bacteriophages have a wide spectrum of action and cure the following diseases:
- intestinal infections;
- dysbacteriosis;
- pancreatitis;
- purulent infections.
Importance of vaccination
Vaccination is the process of introducing a certain dose of antigenic materials into the human body. Sometimes people are given several vaccines at once that are compatible with each other. As a result, preparations have been developed that combine a mixture of several vaccines. A striking example is the DPT vaccination, which is given to children in the first months of life. It is able to create immunity to whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus at the same time.
There are also vaccines that are effective immediately; others must be repeated. This process is called revaccination (re-introduction of a certain dose of antigenic materials into the human body).
Vaccination calendars
For preventive vaccination, there are special vaccination schedules that are available in vaccination certificates. All vaccinations and the names of vaccines are recorded here. However, the certificate does not include vaccinations that are made before traveling to exotic countries or when planning a pregnancy.
Operation principle
The principle of the vaccine is thatthat after the introduction of the vaccine in the body, its components are recognized, studied, memorized, and then substances begin to be produced that destroy all detected antigenic materials.
The purpose of vaccination is to train the immune system and prepare it to fight a full-fledged infection in the midst of an epidemic.
The final stage of the impact of the vaccine is that after entering the body of real viruses, the immune system independently fights a possible disease and prevents it from developing.
Introduction method
Instructions for using vaccines can vary considerably. The most common and frequently encountered method of vaccination is intramuscular injection. Vaccinations are also done subcutaneously and cutaneously. Some vaccines are given by mouth or nose.
Contraindications
Every vaccine has contraindications. The most common ones are:
- allergic reaction from previous vaccine;
- allergic to one of the components of the vaccine;
- high patient temperature;
- hypertension;
- tachycardia;
- rheumatic diseases.
Vaccine "Nobivak"
As a rule, vaccinations are given not only to people, but also to animals. For dogs and cats, the drug "Nobivak" is used. Such a vaccine is the prevention of plague, parainfluenza, parvovirus enteritis, panleukopenia, bordetellosis and other diseases in animals.
The "Nobivak" vaccine has a number of features,to consider.
- The animal must be at least three months old and he althy.
- The pet must be free of fleas, worms, ear mites.
- Dosage of the drug does not depend on weight: one dose is calculated per animal.
- This vaccination is required if you plan to travel by air or rail. Otherwise, the cat or dog will not be allowed on board the plane or train.
- Vaccination effects can sometimes occur. In this case, you need to prepare in advance for an unexpected development of events (for example, anaphylactic shock) and purchase Suprastin tablets. Also, after vaccination, the first 40 minutes should be spent in a veterinary hospital.
Vaccination needed
As already mentioned, a vaccine is a biologically active drug that helps the immune system resist a number of serious diseases. However, vaccination is not a mandatory procedure, and each person has the right to choose. Many parents are anti-vaccination and do not vaccinate their children. In this case, an official medical order is issued indicating the reason for the refusal.
Most people don't get vaccinated just because they're afraid of the serious consequences that could result. Failure to vaccinate increases the risk of disease many times over. In this case, the course of the disease will have a number of complications, which in rare cases even lead to death. For example, the DTP vaccine protects children from diphtheria. The latter, in turn, leads to death in a matter of seconds.minutes.
Today, doctors have only proven vaccines in their arsenal, which are considered reliable and safe. However, each organism has its own individual characteristics, which can lead to vaccine rejection. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out preparatory procedures a few days before vaccination. They will greatly reduce the risk of rejection and side effects.
Besides this, there are situations when vaccination is contraindicated. Usually this applies to severe human diseases and severely weakened immunity.
Vaccines for children
Inactivated vaccination is the safest type of vaccination for children.
In the first years of a baby's life, it is very important to record all the vaccinations done in a special calendar, since vaccination data may be needed in various situations (visiting a kindergarten, swimming pool).
The very first vaccination in a child's life is hepatitis B vaccination. Next, doctors choose a further vaccination schedule:
- If the risk of hepatitis B was determined during pregnancy, then the subsequent vaccinations of the child will be given at 1 month, at 2 months, at 12 months, and the scheme will look like 0-1-2-12 respectively.
- If the baby is not at risk and there were no abnormalities during pregnancy, then the vaccine will be given at 1 and 6 months (scheme: 0-1-6).
On the third day of life, a tuberculosis vaccine is given (most often in the maternity hospital). Revaccination occurs at 7 and 14 years (depending onparental desires and explicit needs). It is better known as the BCG vaccination, which should be a negative Mantoux reaction. The vaccination is done in the upper third of the shoulder. Evidence of the successful completion of the vaccination will be a small scar ranging in size from 0.3 to 0.5 cm. Before it appears, there will be redness, an abscess, which then turns into a crust and disappears.
Next is the polio vaccine. It is done 3 times: at the age of 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. Re-introduction of the drug should be carried out at the age of 12.5 years, as well as at 14 years. Most often, the vaccine is given in the upper thigh or buttocks. However, for young children, there is a polio vaccine available as drops, which is taken orally 1 hour before meals, 4 drops. With this introduction, it is strictly forbidden to drink the drug with water.
Followed by a whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus vaccine, the common name of which is DPT. Since its purpose is to fight three serious diseases at once, it contains a mixture of pertussis vaccine, concentrated diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Do this vaccination at 3 months, then at 4.5 months and at the age of six months. The next vaccinations are at 2, 5 years, 6 years, 7 and 14 years. After that, the frequency of vaccination is once every 10 years, but then the vaccine no longer contains the whooping cough component. After the introduction of the vaccine, there may be a three-day reaction in the form of a temperature.
All of the above vaccinations must be given to the child without fail. However, if the baby has had acute illnesses, thena medical order is assigned.
It is important to understand that a vaccine is a drug that can protect a person from disease and contribute to the stability of the immune system. Therefore, if a child or an adult does not have pronounced he alth problems, then you should be vaccinated and protect yourself and loved ones from possible diseases that have serious consequences.
