Have you ever wondered how vaccines affect your child’s immune system?

Your child’s body has an army of cells, proteins, and a whole chemical battalion to fight germs.  But it needs training.  Infants and children have developing immune systems not strong enough to fight against the bad world of germs.  The type of germs depends on the part of the world you live in.

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You as a mother protect your child too.  It’s called natural passive immunity, and you transfer antibodies to your child at birth, through colostrum and breastfeeding.  Like in whooping cough( Pertussis) and Rubella.  But the strength of protection falls with time.  [1]

Some infections children get while growing up.  The disease or getting vaccinated are the two ways of acquiring Adaptive immunity against a virus or bacteria.

There are several types of vaccines.  the commonest are:

• A vaccine with live attenuated pathogen ,like  mumps measles chickenpox.  The virus in these cases is weakened in a lab.  This type of vaccination will produce both types of immunity, cellular, and antibody-mediated.
• An inactivated vaccine like the Influenza shot containing a more stable but less immunogenic reaction need boosters.
• A vaccine with  protein  is a Toxoid Example: Diphtheria, Tetanus.  This inactivated bacterial toxin used to activate immunity and provide protection.

This is what happens when your child gets a vaccine shot

Your child gets the shot.

Then white blood cell picks it up.

They identify the structure of this invader germ.  Then they process it .

After processing the antigen is presented it to the right type of T cell depending on whether its a virus or bacteria/parasite.

This triggers cell-mediated immunity or antibody-mediated immunity.

Then they form Memory cells which remember and teach other white blood cells about this germ

They also create protein molecules called Immunoglobulins that can help capture the live bug if it dares come near your child and inactivate it.

Listen to the podcast:How Vaccines work.

In Conclusion

Vaccines help in boosting the child’s immune system against germs.  The best protection is a good defence.  That’s how vaccine affect your child’s immunity.

How much do you understand your child when it comes to sleep patterns, feeding, and vaccination? Take the easy, interactive quiz that guides you and get the childcare guide now. 

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References

1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  2009. Immunity Types. [Last cited on 2009 Dec 20]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/immunity-types.htm .

2.Fundamentals of Vaccine Immunology Angela S Clem

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068582/

3 Goldsby RA, Kindt TJ, Osborne BA, Kuby J. New York: Freeman. 2003 [Google Scholar]

4.The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. 2008. Components of the Immune System. [Last cited on 2009 Nov 26]. Available from: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec13/ch163/ch163b.html

5.Harrison Text book of Internal Medicine

6.Nelson Text Book of Pediatrics