A very concise set of notes covering the important aspects of vaccination required to pass the GPhC exam. Topics include:
- Vaccine types
- Immunisation Schedule (NHS)
- Influenza Vaccine
- Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
PRINCIPLES OF VACCINATION
BASIC RECAP:
- Immunity = A person’s ability to resist an infection/toxin via a targeted immune
response specifically against that pathogen/toxin
- This targeted immune response normally involves ANTIBODIES (Abs)
- Immunity can be developed in TWO WAYS:
1- Naturally becoming infected
2- Vaccination against the pathogen/toxin
- Vaccination helps avoid the symptoms of the disease (which may have been FATAL)
& stimulates the production of MEMORY CELLS against the pathogen/toxin this
makes the individual more IMMUNE against it
Vaccines mimic the 1st infection
(w/out causing symptoms) helps
generate a strong, secondary immune
response upon re-infection
TYPES OF VACCINES:
1- Live attenuated - LAVs (e.g. MMR, Nasal Flu vaccine, RV, BCG)
o Weakened form of the pathogen – is still able to REPLICATE (lifelong immunity)
o Although they’re NOT pathogenic – still a risk of reverting back to a virulent form
o CONTRAINDICATED in PREGNANCY & IMMUNOCOMPROMISED
2- Inactive (e.g. Seasonal Flu Jab - IM)
- Pathogen is KILLED – can NOT revert back to virulent form
- Pathogen can NOT REPLICATE – so immune response is WEAKER (may require
boosters to maintain immunity)
- Safer than LAVs, but duration of immunity is inferior
3- Subunit (e.g. PCV, MenACWY)
- Only includes the immunogenic subunit (ANTIGEN) of the pathogen
- Most antigens/subunits are polysaccharides
- Subunit vaccines are one of the SAFEST options (very low risk of ADRs)
4- Toxoid (e.g. Tetanus & Diphtheria – ToxoiD)
- Inactivated toxins produced from the pathogen (toxoids have antigenic sites)
- Similar safety profile & immune response to SUBUNIT vaccines
VACCINES IN PREGNANCY:
- Delay LAVs until AFTER BIRTH – avoids risk of foetal infection
- All other vaccine types (including flu shot) are SAFE & RECOMMENDED in
PREGNANCY
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller muammalal-bayati. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.75. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
