Vaccination is one of the significant ways to prevent diseases. Although our immune systems are doing great jobs, some specific pathogens or micro-organisms can overrun even the most robust immune system.
Now, this is where vaccination comes in. It helps our immune system fight better against the pathogens by introducing them to weakened or dead strains of these pathogens. When this is done, the immune system recognizes and creates a defence system against these pathogens. Thereby enabling it to fight against more potent strains of the pathogens if we ever get exposed to them.
How does it work?
As explained earlier, vaccines work by exposing the immune system to a weaker and safer version of the pathogen, that the body can handle without getting overwhelmed.
The content of the vaccine can either be the dead, weakened or partially or entirely inactivated form of the pathogen. Or a part of the pathogen such as proteins or sugars. Almost all vaccines come with two important contents which are.
1. Antigen: this is the dead, weakened or inactivated pathogen that causes a reaction
2. Adjuvant: this content informs the immune system about the introduced pathogen and its risks and tells the immune system to react.
Vaccines are taken as precautionary steps against diseases. Getting vaccinated prevents you from coming down with a truckload of conditions that can produce lifelong complications.
By getting vaccinated, you not only protect and help yourself but also the community by reducing community spread of most dangerous and infectious diseases whilst protecting yourself and others from possible new strains
