Vaccines & Vaccination

Vaccines against Viral & Bacterial Diseases

Most vaccines against viral infection are effective at preventing disease. However, they are not 100% effective for a number of reasons, reactions can occur after vaccinations.

It is difficult for many of us today to appreciate the dangers of childhood viral infections.

Most of the vaccines in use against viruses are very effective at preventing disease. However, for a variety of reasons, they can fail:

• The vaccine becomes inactive due to incorrect storage, if used past its expiry date, or if incorrectly administered.
• Individuals unpredictably fail to produce an adequate immune response to the vaccine.
• Vaccine immunity “fades” over time.

 The different vaccine combinations at each time point do not interfere with one another and there is no increased risk of serious side-effects when they are given at the same time.

Bacterial vaccines contain killed or attenuated bacteria that activate the immune system. Antibodies are built against that particular bacteria, and prevents bacterial infection later.

Most vaccines against bacterial infections are effective at preventing disease, reactions can occur after vaccinations. Vaccines are available against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, cholera, typhoid, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.