Vaccines (How can I help you?… czyli angielski w aptece)

A vaccine is a biological preparation intended to improve immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies. Vaccines typically contain small amounts of killed or attenuated microorganisms, or their derivatives. They aim at preventing or ameliorating the effects of infection. The first successful vaccine to be developed was smallpox vaccine. Its inventor – Edward Jenner, an English scientist – observed that milkmaids who caught the cowpox virus did not develop smallpox. Jenner is renown as the „father of immunology”. In 1796 he used the cowpox matter to generate immunity to smallpox in an 8-year-old boy. Another investigator who contributed significantly to the development of vaccinology was Louis Pasteur. He discovered an antitoxin against rabies.

Currently we dispose a large range of vaccines against many infectious diseases. There are also many promising reports about the possibility of using vaccination against cancer (the therapeutic aspect of vaccination).
In order to provide the best protection against infectious diseases in children and adolescents, there exist immunization schedules (vaccine schedules) in most of the countries. They specify current recommendations for vaccine timetable. One may find there a schedule of vaccination against diseases such as virus hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, measles, German measles (rubella) and so on. The recommended childhood vaccination schedule is revised annually and is published in January. Recommendations for adolescents and adults are revised less frequently, except for influenza vaccine, which is probably the most popular vaccine among adults, especially during each winter’s flu season.

Vaccines usually contain one or more adjuvants, which are used to boost the immune response. They increase the
activities of dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages by mimicking a natural infection.
Vaccines are administered intramuscularly, subcutaneously (the most popular way), intradermally, and orally (for example polio vaccine). Variation from the recommended route and site can result in inadequate protection. For example, the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine is lower when the gluteal rather than the deltoid muscle is used for administration.


#QUESTIONS. Choose TRUE or FALSE
1. Vaccines attenuate immunity to diseases.
2. In Jenner’s experiments smallpox gave cross-immunity to cowpox.
3. Vaccines may be used in cancer therapy.
4. Childhood immunization schedules are revised every year.
5.  Adjuvants are used to augment immunogenicity of vaccines.


Glossary

vaccine [vækˈsin] – szczepionka
immunity [ɪˈmyunɪti] – odporność
to attenuate [tə əˈtɛnyueɪt] – osłabiać, łagodzić, rozcieńczać
derivative [dɪˈrɪvətɪv] – pochodny
to ameliorate [tə əˈmilyəreɪt] – poprawiać, polepszać
smallpox [ˈsmɔlpɒks] – ospa
cowpox [ˈkaʊpɒks] – ospa krowia, krowianka
milkmaid [ˈmɪlkmeɪd] – mleczarka
rabies [ˈreɪbiz] – wścieklizna
immunization schedule [ɪmyənəˈzeɪʃən ˈskɛdʒul] – kalendarz szczepień
timetable [ˈtaɪmteɪbəl] – grafik
virus hepatitis B [ˈvaɪrəs hɛpəˈtaɪtɪs bi] – wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu B
tuberculosis [tʊbɜrkyəˈloʊsɪs] – gruźlica
diphtheria [dɪfˈθɪəriə] – błonica, dyfteryt
tetanus [ˈtɛtnəs] – tężec
pertussis [pərˈtʌsɪs] – krztusiec, koklusz
whooping cough [ˈhupɪŋ kɔf] – krztusiec, koklusz
poliomyelitis [poʊlioʊmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs] – paraliż dziecięcy
measles [ˈmizəlz] – odra
rubella [ruˈbɛlə] – różyczka
annual [ˈænyuəl] – doroczny, coroczny
influenza [ɪnfluˈɛnzə] – grypa
flu [flu] – grypa
adjuvant [ˈædʒəvənt] – adjuwant
to boost [tə bust] – wzmagać
mimicking [ˈmɪmɪkɪŋ] – naśladowanie
immunogenicity [ɪmyənoʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪti] – immunogenność
gluteal muscle [ˈglutiəl ˈmʌsəl] – mięsień pośladkowy
deltoid muscle [ˈdɛltɔɪd ˈmʌsəl] – mięsień naramienny


#Correct answers: false, false, true, true, true

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