Running head: BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD 1

Biology and Technology in the Real World

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BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD 2

Biology and Technology in the Real World

  A vaccine works in the body by training the immune system to recognize and

combat pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. The body is introduced to specific molecules from

the pathogen to generate a response from the immunity. These particles are called antigens, and

they are available in all viruses and bacteria. White blood cells are triggered and begin making

proteins called antibodies that locate the infectious agent and create a counteroffensive. By

injecting these antigens into the child, the immune system can safely learn to recognize them as

hostile invaders, produce antibodies, and remember them for the future. Even after the antibodies

have done their work, they don’t vanish. They remain in the circulation system, always on the

wait for the return of the same bacteria. If the bacteria or virus resurfaces, the immune system

will recognize the antigens immediately and raid aggressively well before the pathogen can

spread and cause sicknesses (Barry R Bloom; Paul-Henri Lambert,2003).

Live vaccines are made up of a depleted version of the bacteria or virus responsible for

the disease. Some immunizations are made from dead forms of bacteria. These dead bacteria and

viruses were killed to preserve their ability to provide immunity or protection. In other cases, an

inactivated toxin made by the toxins or a piece of the bacteria or virus is used. When the vaccine

is administered, the body’s immunity system detects this disease and reacts just as it would when

a new full-blown infection occurs. Sometimes, a vaccine can last a lifetime, but others need

boosting. Some bacteria, such as flu keep changing, so; one needs the vaccine yearly.

The traditional way of making a vaccine occurs by taking bacteria or virus that causes

diseases and inactivating them with the chemical. At this stage, the toxin is referred to as toxoid.

The most commonly known way was injecting live bacteria into a fertilized egg. After the egg

has incubated and is infected, they will remove the fluid and add formalin to inactivate the virus.
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This process made it impossible for the bacteria or virus to cause infection, but the body could

respond with the same antibodies to protect the body. This process was slow and ineffective

hence they had to develop a better way of producing vaccines using biotechnology.

Biotechnology is a discipline that studies the massive production of goods using living

materials. It has been majorly used as follows: separation of a pure antigen using a specific

monoclonal antibody, synthesis of the antigen with the assistance of a cloned gene, and a

synthesis of peptides to be used as vaccines. Genetic engineering and cell culture facilitate faster

and efficient production of vaccines.

The following are the diseases that United States children are vaccinated against:

 Chickenpox (Varicella)                       Meningococcal                                   

 Diphtheria   Mumps

 Flu(Influenza)                                     Pneumococcal                                   

 Hepatitis A  Polio (Poliomyelitis)

 Hepatitis B                                           Rotavirus                                           

 Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)  Rubella (German Measles)

 HPV (Human Papillomavirus)          Shingles (Herpes Zoster)        

 Measles  Whooping Cough (Pertussis

A study of the pattern of infectious diseases in industrialized countries from the end of

the nineteenth century onwards shows a significant and progressive decline in child mortality,

owing mainly to reducing mortality from infectious diseases before developing and deploying

vaccines. Smallpox and measles were the most common diseases that increased mortality rates in

the pre-vaccination period. Smallpox vaccines were among the first widely given vaccine and the

first disease to be eradicated by vaccination (Glynn & Glynn 2004). Since then, most of the
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illnesses are barely heard of because of vaccination. Vaccination has protected the population

from disease; disability caused by some of these ailments, such as polio, and improved universal

health care by building immunity against deadly diseases. The human population has forgotten

diseases like polio, measles, chickenpox, and mumps.

The primary reason parents refuse vaccinations for their children is concerns about

vaccines’ safety. Most of these concerns are based on information these parents have discovered

in the media or received from acquaintances. Most people are worried about vaccines’ side

effects, such as fever and soreness, when they have their shots. Like any other medication that

has side effects, vaccines also have side effects. Some caregivers are concerned that their

children might become addicted to vaccines, while others think vaccines overwhelm a young

child’s immune system. These parents believe the immune system is still developing; hence

exposing it to different medications overwhelms the system. 

Parents also refuse to give their children vaccination due to their religious beliefs.

Religious reasons are distinct from other cited reasons. They are generally linked to the parents’

core beliefs, and it is challenging to dissuade these individuals from views against immunization.

Personal beliefs, such as why their children should be immunized and yet everyone else is

vaccinated, can become a major hindrance to any vaccination attempts. They believe the chance

of their children getting the disease is low without knowing they are putting their children at risk.

For these reasons, parents want more information regarding vaccinations to make informed

decisions about their children’s healthcare by understanding both the benefits and risks of each

vaccine.

Different studies on vaccines find them as a safe and effective way of preventing severe

disease. There is no scientific demonstration that shows that vaccines cause adverse side effects
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apart from the fact that, like any medication, they have mild and manageable side effects, such as

fever, soreness, and tiny pinch from the needle when administering them. The mercury in

vaccines does not cause autism during the early childhood period. Therefore, access to

information and increased mass awareness will help people, especially parents, make informed

decisions and differentiate between vaccinations’ facts and opinions.

I would recommend that your child get vaccinated because vaccines do not work on an

individual level, but they protect the entire population from diseases. Moreover, when an entire

population is vaccinated, the opportunity of having an outbreak is low because a bacteria or virus

will not have an eligible host to establish the ground for growth; hence it dies. This approach also

protects people who have not been immunized. Vaccines boost the child’s natural immunity by

training the body to identify and fight bacteria. As a result, it protects them from illness and

adverse side effects of treatment and medical procedures, such as antibiotics, hospitalization, and

unnecessary surgeries. Bacteria and viruses are very unpredictable because children are

constantly exposed to germs. Through vaccination, they can be well be protected from viruses

and bacteria attack the body. Vaccination is a worthwhile investment in your child’s wellbeing

and your family’s health. Immunizing your child now helps give them a lifetime free from

vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Reference

Glynn, I., & Glynn, J. (2004). The life and death of smallpox. New York, NY: Cambridge Univ.

Press.

In Bloom, B. R., & In Lambert, P.-H. (2003). The vaccine book. Amsterdam, Boston: Academic

Press.

In Paganelli, C., & ISTE Ltd.,. (2018). Confidence and legitimacy in health information and

communication.