NURS 3812 Immunity Questions With Complete Solutions
Pertussis (whooping cough)
- respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis
- bacteria attach to cilia, causing airway inflammation and
swelling
- spread through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces
- begins with cold-like symptoms (cough, fever)
- after 1-2 weeks, it progresses to violent, uncontrollable
coughing fits, often followed by high-pitched "whoop" sound,
vomiting, exhaustion, and difficulty breathing
- cough can last 6-10 weeks
- high risk for infants: apnea, pneumonia, dehydration,
hospitalization
- vaccine: DTaP, Tdap
Rubella
- viral infection causing fever, sore throat, and rash
- may cause arthritis (more common in women)
- rare complications: encephalitis and bleeding disorders
- serious risk in pregnancy: miscarriage and congenital birth
defects
- spread through respiratory secretions (direct or indirect)
- vaccine: MMR
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- reactivation of varicella-zoster virus after prior chickenpox
infection
,- causes painful, vesicular, itchy, or tingling rash that follows
dermatome
- can lead to long-term nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia)
- highest risk: older adults and immunocompromised individuals
- spread through direct contact with blister fluid or inhalation of
viral particles
- vaccine: RZV (recombinant zoster vaccine)
herd immunity/protection
- if enough of a population is vaccinated against a disease, this
prevents the spread of the disease as it will no longer circulate
- the greater the proportion vaccinated, the greater the protection
against the disease
- protects the vulnerable population who can't get the vaccine or
have poor response to vaccines
- infants, children, immunocompromised, elderly, SDoH
(affordability/access)
common adverse effects
- vaccines are among the safest and most reliable drugs available
- serious reactions are rare
- common AEs: local site s/s, low grade fever, behavior changes,
headache
precautions and contraindications for all vaccines
- severe febrile illness -> 102F
- moderate to severe illness without fever (reschedule)
- known anaphylactic response to previously administered
vaccine or a substance in the vaccine (contraindicated)
, precautions and contraindications for live vaccines
- altered immune system/immunosuppression
DTaP, Tdap precautions and contraindications
- encephalopathy within 7 days following prior doses of vaccine
- precaution: Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks after a
previous dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine
Hib precautions and contraindications
younger than 6 weeks
Hep B precautions and contraindications
anaphylactic reaction to component yeast
RV precautions and contraindications
history of intussusception, SCID
MMR/VAR precautions and contraindications
- anaphylactic reaction to gelatin or neomycin
- recent blood transfusion, immunoglobulin, or maternal
antibodies
- HIV infection at any stage
- pregnancy
PCV13 precautions and contraindications
anaphylactic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria
toxoid
influenza (LAIV3, flumist) precautions and contraindications
Pertussis (whooping cough)
- respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis
- bacteria attach to cilia, causing airway inflammation and
swelling
- spread through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces
- begins with cold-like symptoms (cough, fever)
- after 1-2 weeks, it progresses to violent, uncontrollable
coughing fits, often followed by high-pitched "whoop" sound,
vomiting, exhaustion, and difficulty breathing
- cough can last 6-10 weeks
- high risk for infants: apnea, pneumonia, dehydration,
hospitalization
- vaccine: DTaP, Tdap
Rubella
- viral infection causing fever, sore throat, and rash
- may cause arthritis (more common in women)
- rare complications: encephalitis and bleeding disorders
- serious risk in pregnancy: miscarriage and congenital birth
defects
- spread through respiratory secretions (direct or indirect)
- vaccine: MMR
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- reactivation of varicella-zoster virus after prior chickenpox
infection
,- causes painful, vesicular, itchy, or tingling rash that follows
dermatome
- can lead to long-term nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia)
- highest risk: older adults and immunocompromised individuals
- spread through direct contact with blister fluid or inhalation of
viral particles
- vaccine: RZV (recombinant zoster vaccine)
herd immunity/protection
- if enough of a population is vaccinated against a disease, this
prevents the spread of the disease as it will no longer circulate
- the greater the proportion vaccinated, the greater the protection
against the disease
- protects the vulnerable population who can't get the vaccine or
have poor response to vaccines
- infants, children, immunocompromised, elderly, SDoH
(affordability/access)
common adverse effects
- vaccines are among the safest and most reliable drugs available
- serious reactions are rare
- common AEs: local site s/s, low grade fever, behavior changes,
headache
precautions and contraindications for all vaccines
- severe febrile illness -> 102F
- moderate to severe illness without fever (reschedule)
- known anaphylactic response to previously administered
vaccine or a substance in the vaccine (contraindicated)
, precautions and contraindications for live vaccines
- altered immune system/immunosuppression
DTaP, Tdap precautions and contraindications
- encephalopathy within 7 days following prior doses of vaccine
- precaution: Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks after a
previous dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine
Hib precautions and contraindications
younger than 6 weeks
Hep B precautions and contraindications
anaphylactic reaction to component yeast
RV precautions and contraindications
history of intussusception, SCID
MMR/VAR precautions and contraindications
- anaphylactic reaction to gelatin or neomycin
- recent blood transfusion, immunoglobulin, or maternal
antibodies
- HIV infection at any stage
- pregnancy
PCV13 precautions and contraindications
anaphylactic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria
toxoid
influenza (LAIV3, flumist) precautions and contraindications
