Starter quiz
White blood cells called lymphocytes make proteins called ______ against pathogens.- 'antibodies' ✓
Lymphocytes make antibodies that are specific to one ______ on a pathogen.- 'antigen' ✓
- Which statement about vaccines and vaccination is correct?
- A vaccine is the injected substance. Vaccination is the process of injecting it. ✓
- A vaccination is the injected substance. Vaccine is the process of injecting it.
- Vaccine and vaccination mean exactly the same thing.
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- When a person has been vaccinated against a pathogen, they are protected by ______ cells that remain in their body.
- 'memory' ✓
- The protection provided by memory cells is called __________.
- immunity ✓
- phagocytosis
- resistance
- vaccination
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- After vaccination, if the pathogen from the vaccine enters the body again, memory cells quickly respond by making ______.
- 'antibodies' ✓
Exit quiz
- Match each word to its correct meaning.
- vaccine⇔a formulation containing an inactive pathogen ✓
- vaccination⇔the process of injecting a formulation containing an inactive pathogen ✓
- immunity⇔long-lasting protection against a pathogen ✓
- Which disease has been eradicated through the use of a global vaccination programme?
- COVID-19
- measles
- smallpox ✓
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- Who is correct?
Jacob: Vaccines are tested before they’re used on the public. ✓
Laura: There are no risks when having a vaccination.
Lucas: The benefits of vaccination have not been proven.
- A vaccine is only approved for widespread use when evidence shows that …
- common side-effects are severe and long-lasting.
- common side-effects are mild and short-lived. ✓
- the risk of severe side-effects is low. ✓
- the risks outweigh the benefits.
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When a very high percentage of the population has been vaccinated against a pathogen, this provides ______ immunity.- 'herd' ✓
- Which statements explain why herd immunity is important?
- Herd immunity immediately eradicates a disease.
- Herd immunity helps protect people who can’t have the vaccination. ✓
- Herd immunity can spread from person to person in a population.
- Herd immunity prevents regular outbreaks of diseases such as measles. ✓
- Herd immunity stops a pathogen from mutating.
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Vaccines have had a positive effect on public health (e.g. the eradication of smallpox).
- Vaccination is not risk free as it can have side effects, but the benefits outweigh the risks.
- New vaccines are trialled, and are only approved for use when the benefits of the vaccination outweigh the risks.
- It is necessary to vaccinate a high proportion of a population against a pathogen to provide herd immunity.
- Herd immunity helps protect those who can’t or won’t have the vaccination.
Common misconception
The MMR vaccination causes autism.
The study by Dr Wakefield is highly flawed, and has been discredited. Many subsequent studies have found no link between the MMR vaccination and autism. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can have devastating consequences.
Keywords
Vaccination - The process of administering a vaccine to an individual to create immunity to a pathogen.
Vaccine - A formulation that contains an inactive pathogen, or parts of it.
Immunity - Immunity is established after the body is first exposed to a pathogen's antigens, and enables white blood cells to respond quickly to the antigen when the body is re-exposed to it.
Risk - A possible negative outcome.
Herd immunity - When a high proportion of the population have been vaccinated against a disease, the spread is reduced and unvaccinated individuals may be protected.