Vaccination is the process of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce immunity against a specific infectious disease. It stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Vaccines contain weakened or inactivated parts of a particular organism (antigen) that triggers an immune response within the body.
Live attenuated vaccines use a weakened form of the germ that causes a disease, while inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ.
mRNA vaccines, like those developed for COVID-19, provide instructions for cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response.
Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease, making its spread unlikely.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role in coordinating global vaccination efforts and setting standards.
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Related terms
Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response, often part of a pathogen.