The use of vaccine started in 1796 when Edward Jenner found the chickenpox vaccine, derived from cowpox. The word vaccine comes from the Latin word vacca, which literally translates to cow. Vaccination aims to protect a person from contracting an illness. It works by controlling, weakening, and killing the etiology of a disease.

Injecting a vaccine will stimulate an immune response, resulting in an acquired immunity towards a specific kind of disease. Vaccine is often made of a pathogen that has been weakened. This is called live, attenuated vaccines.

There are also a number of other vaccine types. Inactivated vaccines are made of pathogens that have been killed by chemicals, heat, or radiation. This type produces a weaker immune system response. Meanwhile, conjugate vaccines are made to attack bacteria with polysaccharide protective layer.

To improve vaccine effectivity, more epidemiological research is required. It is hoped that in the future, more diseases will be able to be prevented via vaccines.

Text by Rezky Zakiri
Stock photos from Pixabay.com

Source(s):

• Lahariya, C. (2016). Vaccine epidemiology: A review. Journal of family medicine and primary care: Volume 5.
• Rao, P. N., Sridhar (2016). Vaccine. www.microrao.com. Dept. of Microbiology JJMMC, Davangere.