Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines
Vaccines administered at a travel health clinic in Montreal play the role of tricking the body into building immunity against different diseases without resulting in any illness. Normally, a weakened or dead version of the virus or bacteria that causes a disease is introduced into the immune system. Additionally, in some cases, inactivated toxins that are produced by the virus or bacteria are utilized in a vaccine for developing immunity.
Some instances where the use of inactivated toxins is seen are the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. These are called antigens and are considered vital ingredient in most vaccines. After vaccination when the immune system faces real diseases, it is able to quickly respond and develop antibodies as well as memory cells for giving our body needed protection.
Thus, vaccination in Montreal is a highly effective step in providing protection from serious diseases. Few of the vaccines provide life long immunization while others require booster shots at regular intervals.
Let us explore more details about vaccines taken at a travel clinic in Montreal and their many benefits.
History Behind Vaccines
Methods of immunization were researched more than 200 years back when diseases like smallpox were considered quite deadly. At that time, Edward Jenner, an 18th century doctor noticed that farm workers contracting mild cowpox were nearly immune to the outbreaks of smallpox.
Jenner understood that cowpox germs were quite similar to the germs of smallpox, and helped the immune system of those farm workers fight both diseases. This research led to the development of vaccines for different diseases.
How do vaccines function?
The immune system of every human being consists of special chemicals (known as antibodies) which are responsible for fighting infections. Normally, people develop immunity from diseases naturally when they become ill or by way of immunization.
Vaccines contain modified versions of toxins or germs which are responsible for diseases. These vaccines are administered in the form of a drink or injection.
Our immune system reacts to inactivated toxins present in vaccines as if they are real germs and starts making antibodies for destroying them. Thus, the body is able to make the antibodies without catching the disease.
How does our immunity benefits from vaccines?
The good thing about the human immune system is that it keeps record of all the germs it has defeated, which is known as immunological memory.
When actual germs are encountered, the immune system activates memory cells so the required anti-bodies can be produced to defeat the illness. Additionally, all this happens well before any symptoms of the disease are experienced.
It is worth mentioning here that vaccines are developed as per the process by which any germ makes people sick. For instance, our body reacts to whole measles and as such, a weakened form of this virus is added to the vaccines. On the other hand, tetanus is the result of a reaction to toxins released by the bacteria that causes tetanus. Thus, the tetanus vaccine consists of these inactivated toxins.
What is present in vaccines?
Ingredients present in a vaccine vary according to the infection it fights against. Moreover, ingredients keep changing according to the discovery of new strains of the same virus (as has been seen for the flu).
Usually, a vaccine would have:
- Weakened and live germs
- Dead germs
- Smaller part of germs
- Bacteria produced inactivated toxins
- Preservatives or antibiotics for stopping the vaccine from going off or becoming contaminated
- Saline, sterile water, and other diluents
Development of New Vaccines
The development of vaccines takes a long time, about ten to fifteen years. In addition, before being released all vaccines undergo several stages of development consisting of discovery, research, pre and post clinical testing, and finally the regulatory approval. Only after the necessary approval does the manufacturing of vaccines begins.
It is worth mentioning here that even after the introduction of vaccines, it is monitored through regular surveillance to make sure it is safe and effective. In addition, it becomes necessary to update some vaccines on a yearly basis so that they respond to the changes in the strains of infection (like for the flu vaccine).
Safety of Vaccines
Vaccines are usually safer options when compared to getting infected by a disease. Additionally, vaccines help in preventing diseases which can result in death or lifelong complications. Normally, the side effects of vaccines are very mild and in addition, their effects last for a few days.
For instance, there is a small risk that a person receiving the MMRV vaccine will develop ITP, which is a rare condition. But, you need to take note of the fact that the risk of ITP when someone is suffering from measles is more than ten times the risk someone faces without the vaccine.
How much time does it take for a vaccine to work?
Normally, immune responses take about seven to twenty-one days to work. But, the duration for which immunity is received will depend on the following factors:
- Nature of vaccine
- Dosage timing
- Age of the person
- If a person has naturally become infected
Additionally, to stay protected you will have to ensure that you follow the schedule recommended for the vaccine and keep it up-to-date by visiting a travel health clinic in Montreal.
Which type of vaccine is needed?
The vaccines that someone requires is primarily determined by HALO, which stands for health, age, lifestyle, and lastly occupation.
- Health: Someone may require frequent immunization depending upon his or her health.
- Age: People have higher vulnerability at specific ages.
- Lifestyle: Certain lifestyle choices can put you at higher risk of diseases.
- Occupation: Exposure risk for you will be higher in certain jobs such as emergency services, childcare, and hospitals.
Are vaccines successful?
Vaccination at travel health clinics in Montreal is the best option you have and helps in preventing infectious diseases. Most diseases that can be prevented by using vaccines tend to be very contagious, have serious complications, and usually spread quickly.
Additionally, vaccines are able to provide protection to vulnerable people; those who are very sick and young children.