What is a Vaccine? - Materials & Vaccine Side Effects

Definition of Vaccines


Vaccines is that the immune system is designed to help protect people from viruses and bacteria that may enter the body and cause disease. When a bacterium or virus enters the body, the immune system starts to produce a protein called an antibody. These antibodies that can attack and help destroy the bacteria or virus.

Vaccines are made by using viruses or bacteria causing the disease are inactive or attenuated. When a virus or bacterium is introduced into the body in the form of a vaccine, the immune system will recognize them and learn how to make antibodies to fight infections that will occur in the future.

Viruses or bacteria that is used in the vaccine initially grown in a collection of specialized cells and then be purified before use. Although the vaccine has undergone the process of purification, this vaccine may contain a small amount of material used to grow the virus or bacteria.

What is a Vaccine? - Materials & Vaccine Side Effects
Picture DPT vaccine - vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

Vaccine Ingredients


In addition to active ingredients, vaccines also contain other components that are included to help increase their effectiveness. The following are some of the ingredients in the vaccine:

Aluminum

Aluminum salts used in some vaccines to help improve the immune response in the person receiving the vaccination.

Mercury / Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing compound that has been used since the 1930s to help prevent bacteria from contaminating the vaccine. Thimerosal has been eliminated or reduced to trace amounts in most of the vaccines are recommended for children aged 6 years and younger.

Antibiotics

Certain antibiotics can be used for the manufacture of vaccines to prevent contamination from bacteria. Very small levels of antibiotics may be contained in the vaccine itself.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde has been used for many years to process the inactive virus and bacterial vaccines during the manufacturing process. Very small levels of formaldehyde can be found in some vaccines.

Is Vaccine Side Effects Dangerous?


As with many drugs and medical procedures, side effects can occur after vaccination. Side effects may vary in some vaccines. The most common side effects occur when the vaccine is given as pain, redness or swelling. Other side effects are fever, headache, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.

There are also some side effects that are less common but more serious impacts, such as allergic reactions to the vaccine, and of course this requires immediate medical attention. If you experience side effects associated with the vaccine, please contact your medical experts.