What is a vaccine and how does it work?

What is a vaccine and how does it work?

Biological products developed by eliminating the disease-causing properties of microbes such as viruses, bacteria, etc. that are capable of causing disease in humans and animals or by eliminating the effects of toxins secreted by some microbes are called vaccines. Vaccines are administered to healthy and at-risk people to protect them from diseases and their consequences. In this way, the body recognizes microbes or toxins that do not harm it and develops a defense against them. Thus, when the real germ is encountered, it fights with the pre-developed defense system and the person does not get the disease. The person is now immune to the disease. This immunity usually remains in the body for life and fights to neutralize the disease agent when it is encountered.

Immunization is among the most important public health interventions in terms of preventing vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths. Diseases and epidemics are not seen in societies consisting of individuals who are immunized by vaccination.