However, the duration of immunity can depend on a number of factors, such as the nature of vaccine, the timing of dosages, our age, and whether we have had an infection naturally. To be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, make sure to stick to the recommended schedules and keep your immunisations up to date.
Vaccines not only protect us, but vulnerable people in our community such as the young, the elderly, or those with weakened immunity. The vaccines we may need are determined by our health, age, lifestyle and occupation.
Together, these factors are known as HALO. HALO is defined as:. Remember, if you are not sure about what vaccines you need, talk to your GP doctor. If you find you are not up to date with your vaccinations, your GP will tell you about catch-ups and boosters.
The National Immunisation Program NIP sets out recommended immunisations for infants, children, older people and other people at risk, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Most recommended vaccines are available at no cost to these groups. If you need further information, talk to your GP doctor or immunisation provider.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans. The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Careful prescribing of antibiotics will minimise the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
Aspergillus is a fungus that commonly grows on rotting vegetation. It can cause asthma symptoms. The simplest form of prevention for lyssavirus is to avoid close contact with bats. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.
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Skip to main content. Home Immunisation. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. When were vaccines developed? How do vaccines work? How do vaccines help our immunity? What is in vaccines?
How are new vaccines developed? Are vaccines safe? How successful are vaccines? How long does it take for a vaccine to work? Which vaccines do we need? Some vaccines may contain a small dose of: A live but weakened germ. Dead germs. Small parts of germs for example, a molecule from the surface of a germ. Macrophages media icon are white blood cells that swallow up and digest germs, plus dead or dying cells.
The macrophages leave behind parts of the invading germs called antigens. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to attack them. B-lymphocytes are defensive white blood cells.
They produce antibodies that attack the antigens left behind by the macrophages. T-lymphocytes are another type of defensive white blood cell. They attack cells in the body that have already been infected. How Vaccines Work Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection.
Types of Vaccines Scientists take many approaches to developing vaccines. These vaccines contain a version of the living virus or bacteria that has been weakened so that it does not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems.
Because live, attenuated vaccines are the closest thing to a natural infection, they are good teachers for the immune system. Examples of live, attenuated vaccines include measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine MMR and varicella chickenpox vaccine. Even though they are very effective, not everyone can receive these vaccines. Children with weakened immune systems—for example, those who are undergoing chemotherapy—cannot get live vaccines.
Inactivated vaccines also fight viruses and bacteria. These vaccines are made by inactivating, or killing, the germ during the process of making the vaccine. The inactivated polio vaccine is an example of this type of vaccine. Inactivated vaccines produce immune responses in different ways than live, attenuated vaccines. Toxoid vaccines prevent diseases caused by bacteria that produce toxins poisons in the body. In the process of making these vaccines, the toxins are weakened so they cannot cause illness.
Weakened toxins are called toxoids. When the immune system receives a vaccine containing a toxoid, it learns how to fight off the natural toxin. The DTaP vaccine contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Subunit vaccines include only parts of the virus or bacteria, or subunits, instead of the entire germ. Because these vaccines contain only the essential antigens and not all the other molecules that make up the germ, side effects are less common.
The pertussis whooping cough component of the DTaP vaccine is an example of a subunit vaccine. Conjugate vaccines fight a different type of bacteria. These bacteria have antigens with an outer coating of sugar-like substances called polysaccharides. Conjugate vaccines are effective for these types of bacteria because they connect or conjugate the polysaccharides to antigens that the immune system responds to very well.
This linkage helps the immature immune system react to the coating and develop an immune response. An example of this type of vaccine is the Haemophilus influenzae type B Hib vaccine. Vaccines Require More Than One Dose There are four reasons that babies—and even teens or adults—who receive a vaccine for the first time may need more than one dose: For some vaccines primarily inactivated vaccines , the first dose does not provide as much immunity as possible.
Facebook Youtube Twitter. Home Healthy living What diseases do vaccines protect against? What diseases do vaccines protect against? Vaccines protect against infectious diseases that can cause serious illness and sometimes death. Vaccines have successfully eliminated devastating diseases such as polio and smallpox.
Acknowledgements Public Health.
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