Vaccinations
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease
A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism
o It is often made from
weakened or killed forms of the microbe
… its toxins
or other purified components
o The agent stimulates the body’s immune system to recognize the agent as foreign,
destroy it and remember it
Eradication the complete and permanent worldwide reduction to zero new cases of the
disease trough deliberate efforts
Elimination the reduction to zero (or a very low defined target rate) of new cases in a
defined geographical area
AEFI any adverse event observed following immunization
o Some may be due to the vaccine, some due to error in the administration and some
are the result of unrelated coincidence
o An adverse vaccine reaction is a subset of AEFI it refers to an vaccine-related
event caused or precipitated by a vaccine when given correctly
Post-licensure surveillance
o Vaccines are now in use and recipients are no longer monitored in clinical trials
o Subpopulations frequently excluded from trials
o Other factors leading to AEFI need to be monitored for safety
o Uncommon and rare vaccine reactions and reactions with delayed onset may not be
detected pre-licensure
o Some commonly used vaccines have demonstrated rare and potentially severe AEs
To ensure continued public acceptance of vaccines, it is essential to:
o Monitor the incidence of AEFIs
o Scientifically evaluate the likely acceptations
o Respond to newly identified risks from vaccines
o Communicate the benefits and risks to patients and parents trough a trusted health
care source in advance of the vaccination visit
Type vaccines
o Live attenuated (LAV)
Tuberculosis
Oral polio vaccine
Measles
Rotavirus
Yellow fever
o Inactivated (killed antigen)
Whole-cell pertussis
Inactivated polio virus
o Subunit (purified antigen)
Acellular pertussis
Hepatitis B
Pneumococcal
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