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  • Jun 13, 2021
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What are vaccines? Mention the different types of vaccines. Explain the mechanism through which vaccines work in human body.

Introduction:

A vaccine is a biological substance that stimulates the production of antibodies thus providing immunity against diseases. Thus, immune system recognizes the disease causing organisms and fights against it. Vaccines contain an agent which resembles the disease causing organism. It is often made from either a weakened organism or a derivative of it.

Body:

Based on the mechanism of the vaccines, they are classified as follows:
1. Live-attenuated vaccines: It uses weakened version of the micro-organism and is more effective. Ex- Chickenpox vaccine
2. Inactivated vaccines: It uses killed version of the micro-organism that causes the disease. It is less effective compared to the live vaccines and may require several doses over a period of time. Ex- Hepatitis B vaccine
3. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines: These vaccines prepare the proteins which trigger the response against the disease. Ex- Covid-19 vaccine
4. Subunit vaccines: These vaccines contain specific parts of a germ that causes the disease. Ex- Whooping cough vaccine
5. Toxoid vaccines: These vaccines improve immunity such that it targets the specific toxin instead of the organism itself. Regular booster shots are recommended for such vaccines. Ex- Tetanus(Tetvac)
6. Viral vector vaccines: It uses modified version of a different virus as a vector. Ex: Covid- 19 vaccines

In general vaccines are used to provide the immunity against a particular disease. Even though the mechanism in which they work varies based on the type, the end result is the same. Due to the way in which they work some vaccines might cause temporary side effects like fever, body pain etc.

Conclusion:

To control the spread of a disease vaccination process is considered as vital. A considerable amount of time and money would have been invested to invent these vaccines and a lot of trial phases will also be passed. So vaccines can be considered as a boon to fight diseases.