Immunizations The purpose of vaccination or immunization is to intentionally expose the human immune system to a foreign infectious agent so that

it forms a memory of that ag ent. In future infections by that organism, the attack against the agent will ta ke only minutes to hours, and the agent will be destroyed before it has a chance to inflict its damage. Passive immunization refers to injection of prepared antibodies into a person wh o has either already been infected or is at risk of acquiring an infection. In t his case the infected person s immune system is not actively protecting the body, hence the name passive immunization. Examples of passive immunization include Ra bies and Hepatitis

A. Types of Vaccines Vaccines are of two general types: In live attenuated vaccines, the organism in the vaccine is alive but unable to infect a person with a normal immune system. Patients with impaired immunity-suc h as those with immune deficiencies, on chemotherapy for cancer, or with AIDS-an d pregnant women must not be given live vaccines. Examples of live attenuated va ccines are measles, mumps, rubella, and oral polio. Inactivated or killed vaccines contain dead, but intact, organisms, so the immun e system can still recognize them. Most vaccines are inactivated. Vaccines are usually given at multiple intervals because the immune system needs several reminders to boost immunity. Specific vaccines are available for the foll owing infections: Diphtheria Disease: Diphtheria is a bacterial illness acquired through inhalation of infect ed particles. It causes a severe sore throat and possibly heart and nerve damage . The bacteria live in the airways of healthy or recovering humans. Vaccine: DTP Interval: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 15 months and 5 years of age. Pertussis Disease: A bacterial illness acquired through inhalation of the infected particl es. It causes severe, life-threatening coughing spells (whooping cough), and pos sibly seizures and brain damage. The bacteria usually live in the airways of adu lts with no or minimal cough. Vaccine: DTP Interval: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 15 months and 5 years of age. Tetanus Disease: Tetanus is a bacterial infection acquired through dirty wound infection . Tetanus causes severe and painful muscle contractions. The bacteria are abunda nt in the soil. Vaccine: DTP Interval: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 15 months, 5 years of age. The vaccine must be repeate d every 10 years. Polio Disease: Polio is a viral infection involving the mouth and throat, and later th e blood and spinal cord. Approximately 10% of the infected people develop spinal cord infection, causing muscle paralysis, usually one-sided.

Vaccine: OPV (oral=live) and Injected (inactivated); inactivated vaccine is give n to children with immunodeficiencies. Interval: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 18 months and 5 years of age. Measles Disease: Measles is a viral infection acquired through breathing infected partic les. It causes rash, croupy cough, pneumonia, diarrhea, and possibly brain infec tion and bleeding. Vaccine: MMR Interval: 15 months and 12 years.

Mumps Disease: Mumps is a viral infection acquired through breathing infected particle s. It causes painful swelling of the Parotid gland, testes, and pancreas gland. Vaccine: MMR Interval: 15 months and 12 years. Rubella (German Measles) Disease: Rubella is a viral infection acquired through inhalation of infected pa rticles. It causes rash, fevers, and enlarged lymph nodes. If a pregnant woman b ecomes infected, the fetus could be severely and permanently damaged. Vaccine: MMR Interval: 15 months and 12 years. Haemophilis influenza type b (Hib) Disease: Haemophilis influenza type b is a bacterial infection acquired through inhalation of infected particles or through contact with infected objects. It ca uses life-threatening conditions such as meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), throat swelling, and joint infection. Vaccine: Hib Interval: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 15 months Influenza Virus Disease: Influenza is a viral infection of the upper- and lower respiratory trac t. It can be fatal in people with heart, lung, and other chronic diseases. Vaccine: Flu shot; recommended for patients with heart and lung disease and resi dents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Interval: yearly Pneumococcal pneumonia Disease: Pneumococcal pneumonia is a bacterial illness causing pneumonia. Vaccine: Pneumococcal vaccine; recommended for people with heart, lung, or other chronic illnesses. Interval: Every ten years. Also available, based on specific circumstances, are vaccines for the following: Varicella-Zoster (Chickenpox): Varicella-Zoster is a viral infection acquired th rough inhalation of infected particles. It causes painful blistering and later c rusty rash and fevers. Rare complications include infections of the brain, joint s, and kidneys and/or hemorrhaging. Vaccination is recommended for children with immunodeficiencies, but it is safe and frequently given to healthy children. Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. It is acquired throu gh exposure to blood (such as in a transfusion), through sexual intercourse, and from a mother to her fetus. Vaccination is recommended in high-risk patients, e specially the health care providers.

Cholera: Cholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine. It causes seve re watery diarrhea and dehydration that could lead to death. The vaccine is reco mmended for travelers to Africa, Middle East, and the Far East. Plague: Plague is a bacterial infection carried by rodents. It causes fever, ski n sores, enlarged lymph nodes, and if not treated, death. Humans are accidentall y infected by fleas that feed off the infected rodents. The vaccine is recommend ed for people traveling to or working in areas where plague is prevalent. Typhoid fever: Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella. It causes diarrhea, fevers, and if left untreated, death. The vaccine is recommended for t ravelers to Africa, South America, the Middle East, and the Far East. Rabies: Rabies is a viral infection acquired through the bite of an infected mam mal. It causes fevers, headaches, restlessness, seizures, coma, and death. Immun ization is passive by injection of anti-Rabies antibodies. Lyme Disease: Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection acquired through the bite of a tick that feeds on deer. It causes rash, fever, and, left untreated, possible neurological or heart damage. Vaccination is recommended to those who live in a reas where deer population is large and in contact with the human population.