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A popular topic in the media in recent months is the evaluation of preventive vaccinations. On one side are anti-vaccine and on the other pro-vaccination. Protective vaccinations of children have been compulsory in Poland for years, they are introduced in separate periods of time and at a selected age. However, many parents do not want to vaccinate their children. Should they have a chance to decide about their child’s health?
What are vaccines anyway?
Vaccines are specially prepared substances that contain isolated antigens. The antigen entering the body does not threaten it at all, because earlier it is deprived of all its features that made it dangerous. Such an antigen, however, alerts the immune system that “something” is wrong. The immune system starts producing antibodies to fight the – really “non-malignant” – antigen. In this way, the body learns how to react quickly to the same antigen later.
Therefore, after receiving the vaccine, the vaccinated person does not get the disease. It may come into contact with the antigens of a given disease, but its immune system is well trained to deal with them – so the disease does not appear at all.
Can the introduced antigen be dangerous?
It cannot be, because even if a live microorganism is included in the vaccine, it is suitably stripped of all its “killer” characteristics – it is attenuated. Most often, however, vaccines contain dead microorganisms or only parts of them. Some vaccines are even created from antigens that do not attack humans, but cattle, for example, as in the case of the tuberculosis vaccine.
What vaccines do we distinguish?
- Monovalent vaccines: These are vaccines that are specifically designed to develop immunity against one selected disease
- Polyvalent vaccines: in other words, combined vaccines that act simultaneously on several diseases, containing several types of antigens
Can vaccines be dangerous?
Vaccines can be dangerous if the person receiving the vaccine has an immune disorder. Interestingly, however, people infected with HIV can be vaccinated. There is also a risk if the vaccinated person has any infectious or acute disease where the body temperature exceeds 38 °C.
Vaccines can also be dangerous for people who are allergic to any component of the vaccine and for pregnant women. Otherwise, vaccines are completely safe, increase the body’s immunity and allow you to “get rid of” plagues and epidemics that threaten human life.