Immunisation against infectious disease, 1990 / Department of Health, Welsh Office, Scottish Home and Health Department.

  • Great Britain. Department of Health
Date:
[1990]
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Immunisation against infectious disease, 1990 / Department of Health, Welsh Office, Scottish Home and Health Department. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1.1 Immunity can be induced, either actively or passively, against a variety of bacterial and viral agents. 1.2 Active immunity is induced by using inactivated or attenuated live organisms or their products. Live attenuated vaccines include those for polhomyelitis (OPV), measles and rubella, and BCG vaccine. Bacterial and viral vaccines such as whooping cough, typhoid and inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) vaccines contain inactivated organisms.Others such as influenza and pneumococcal vaccine contain immunising components of the organisms; tetanus and diphtheria vaccines contain toxoid - that is, toxins inactivated by treatment with formaldehyde. 1.3 Most vaccines produce their protective effect by stimulating the production of antibodies which are detectable in the serum by laboratory tests. BCG vaccine promotes cell mediated immunity which is demonstrated by a positive tuberculin skin test. 1.4 A first injection of inactivated vaccine or toxoid in a subject without prior exposure to the antigen produces a slow antibody or antitoxin response of predominantly IgM antibody - the primary response. Two injections may be needed to produce such a response. Depending on the potency of the product and time interval, further injections will lead to an accelerated response in which the antibody or antitoxin titre (IgG) rises to a higher level - the secondary response. Following a full course, the antibody or antitoxin levels remain high for months or years, but even if the level of detectable antibody falls, the immune mechanism has been sensitised and a further dose of vaccine reinforces immunity. 1.5 Some inactivated vaccines contain adjuvants, substances which enhance the antibody response. Examples are aluminium phosphate and aluminium hydroxide which are contained in adsorbed diphtheria/tetanus/ pertussis vaccine, and adsorbed diphtheria/tetanus vaccine. 1.6 Live attenuated virus vaccines such as measles, rubella and mumps promote a full, long-lasting antibody response after one dose. Live poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV) requires three doses. An important additional
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