Immunisation

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

Immunisation plays an important part in protecting individuals and the community from serious diseases.

There are two main types of immunisation:

active immunisation, and
passive immunisation.

Both types of immunisation prepare our bodies to fight against certain diseases, in case we come into contact with them in the future.

With active immunisation, tiny amounts of killed or weakened disease organisms are introduced into the body (usually by injection), encouraging the production of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy toxins and disease-carrying organisms. Should you come into contact with the active disease at a later date, your immune system will have the antibodies to successfully fight it.

Passive immunisation is when ready-made antibodies are injected into the body to provide short-term protection from disease. An example of this is the flu (influenza) vaccination, given annually to people at greater risk of developing health complications if they catch flu.

Vaccination is the name given to all forms of immunisation. A wide range of vaccines is available to protect against different infectious diseases.