VACCINATION and IMMUNIZATION

Vocabulary

side effect – an unpleasant effect of a drug that happens in addition to the main effect.
deafness – loss of ability to understand spoken words, as a result of a cerebral lesion.
blindness – unable to see.
soreness – pain because of injury or infection.
swelling – (syn.) edema; tumor, the state of being swollen
rash – an eruption of spots on the skin.
mumps – an infectious disease characterized by inflammatory swelling of the parotid and usually
other salivary glands, and sometimes by inflammation of ovaries, caused by a paramyxovirus.
measles – an acute infectious disease occurring mostly in children, characterized by catarrhal and
febrile symptoms and an eruption of small red spots; rubeola.
rubella – a usually mild contagious viral disease characterized by fever, mild upper respiratory
congestion, and a fine red rash lasting a few days: if contracted by a woman during early pregnancy, it
may cause serious damage to the fetus.
autism – a developmental disorder that commonly manifests in early childhood, characterized by
impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment.
diphtheria – a febrile, infectious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and
characterized by the formation of a false membrane in the air passages, especially the throat.
tetanus – an infectious, often fatal disease caused by a specific bacterium that enters the body through
wounds and characterized by respiratory paralysis, spasms and rigidity of the voluntary muscles,
especially those of the neck and lower jaw.
pertussis – an infectious disease of the respiratory mucous membrane, caused by Bordetella pertussis,
characterized by a series of short, convulsive coughs followed by a deep inspiration accompanied by a
whooping sound.
shot(s) – a hypodermic injection.
MMR - measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. 1
DTaP - diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis.
booster dose - an extra administration of a vaccine after an earlier (prime) dose.

VACCINATION AND IMMUNIZATION

The terms vaccination and immunization don’t have the same meaning. Vaccination is the term used for
getting a vaccine, that is, actually getting the injection or taking an oral vaccine dose. Immunization
refers to the process of both getting the vaccine and becoming immune to the disease. All forms of
immunization work in the same way. When people are injected with a vaccine, their body produces an
immune response in the same way it would follow exposure to a disease but without the person getting
the disease. If the person comes in contact with the disease in the future, the body is able to make an
immune response fast enough to prevent the person developing the disease or developing a severe case
of the disease.
Some vaccines contain a very small dose of a live, but weakened form of a virus. Some vaccines contain
a very small dose of killed bacteria or small parts of bacteria, and other vaccines contain a small dose of
a modified toxin produced by bacteria.
Vaccines may also contain either a small amount of preservative or a small amount of an antibiotic to
preserve the vaccine. Some vaccines may also contain a small amount of an aluminium salt, which helps
produce a better immune response. In general, the normal immune response takes approximately 2
weeks to work. This means protection from an infection will not occur immediately after immunization.
Most immunizations need to be given several times to build long-lasting protection. A child who has
been given only 1 or 2 doses of the DTaP vaccine is only partially protected against diphtheria, tetanus
and pertussis (whooping cough) and may become sick if exposed to these diseases until they have all
the doses they need. However, some of the new vaccines, such as the meningococcal vaccine, provide
long-lasting immunity after only one dose.
The protective effect of immunization is not always lifelong. Some, like tetanus vaccine, can last up to
30 years, after which time a booster dose may be given. Some immunizations, such as whooping cough
vaccine, give protection for about 5 years after a full course. Influenza immunization is needed every
year due to frequent changes to the type of flu virus in the community. Even when all the doses of a
vaccine have been given, not everyone is protected against the disease.
Measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio vaccines protect more than 95% of children who have
completed the course. One dose of meningococcal vaccine at 12 months protects over 90% of children.
Three doses of whooping cough vaccine protect about 85% of children who have been immunized, and
will reduce the severity of the disease in the other 15% if they do catch whooping cough. Booster doses
are needed because immunity decreases over time.

I. Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the difference between immunization and vaccination?

2. How does immunization work?
3. What is a vaccine?
4. How long do immunizations take to work?
5. How long do immunizations last?
6. Is everyone protected from disease by immunization?

II. Fill in the blanks with the suitable words:

disease, to fight, acquired, recognize, prophylactic, microorganism, infection, encounter, antibodies,
agent, weakened preparation, immune system
A vaccine is a biological (1) ……………………. that provides active (2) ……………………. immunity to a
2
particular infectious (3) ……………………….. A vaccine typically contains a biological preparation from disease-
causing (4) …………………………. This preparation is often made from (5) …………………………. or killed
forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's (6)
…………………………... to recognize the (7) …………………………………. as a threat and starts producing
(8) ……………………………………. against it, so as to further (9) …………………………. and destroy any of
the microorganisms associated with that agent that it may (10) …………………………… in the future. Vaccines
can be (11) ……………………………………. to prevent or ameliorate the effects of a future (12)
……………………………………, or therapeutic (13) ………………………… a disease that has already
occurred.

III. True/False:
1. Vaccination and immunization refer to the same process /
2. All forms of immunization work in different ways /
3. When a person is given a vaccine, the person develops the disease /
4. Most immunizations need to be given several times to build long-lasting protection /
5. Some vaccines contain a very small dose of a live, but weakened form of a virus /
6. The protective effect of immunization is always lifelong /

IV. Speaking

Talk on the benefits and risks of vaccination.

Mention your personal opinion about the process and effects of vaccination.