Study Guide Vaccines

To-Do Date: Oct 23 at 11:59am

Cartoon

In this cartoon, the green virus see a ''Wanted'' poster that looks just like them. Meanwhile some angry looking white cells are gathering and glaring at them. Given what you know about the immune system, what types of White Blood Cells would be gathering to attack the viruses? What part of the immune response is symbolized by the ''Wanted '' poster?

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Learning Objectives 

1. What is a vaccine?

• • • How does it activate our immune system?
    • What is the role of our own immune system in vaccination?
    • What is the difference between vaccination and anti-virals
    • What are the two different ways that vaccines protect us?

2. What are the differences and similarities between these different vaccine types:

• • • inactivated vaccine or life-attenuated vaccines, mRNA vaccines, viral vectored vaccines
    • For each of these, what is injected into the patient?
    • How strong is the immunity for each?
    • What are the pros and cons for each type?

3. How are vaccines developed, researched, tested and used?

• • • What are the stages of vaccine development?
    • For each stage, what factors sped up that stage?
    • Why is there a need for faster vaccine development?
    • For each (viral vectored vaccines and mRNA vaccines: How do they work? How do they make it faster to develop a new vaccine?

4. Are the Covid-19 Vaccines Safe?

• • • Does the vaccine work to prevent serious symptoms of the disease ?
    • Does the vaccine work to prevent spread of the disease from one person to another?
    • Is the vaccine safe/ Does the vaccine cause side effects or other damage

 

5. . What is herd immunity?

• • • What is herd immunity?
    • Who is protected by herd immunity?
    • Why do so many people need to be immune before you can reach herd immunity?