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Types of Vaccinations
Table of Contents
How do vaccines work?
The immune system responds to germs by producing antibodies. Antibodies fight the germs off. They can remain after the germ leaves the body. This is why you can only catch some sicknesses once. Antibodies are specific. This means each pathogen has its own antibodies. If two viruses have similar shapes, the same antibodies can provide protection. Vaccines allow the body to fight against infection, without being infected first. After receiving a vaccine you immune system works hard to make antibodies. This can make you feel tired, have headaches, or even develop a fever. These symptoms normally only last a few days, and do not mean you are infected with the virus.
Inactivated Vaccines
Inactivated vaccines use dead germs. The dead germs are injected into the body. The body produces antibodies in response. However, it typically does not produce enough to prevent infection. As a result, multiple doses may be required. Each dose increases the amount of antibodies. Over time, the body builds up enough antibodies to prevent infection.
Why use an inactivated vaccine?
Inactive vaccines are often cheap to produce. You have likely received an inactive vaccine. Both the flu and polio vaccines are inactive vaccines. Providing inactive vaccines to rural regions can be difficult because they require multiple doses.
Live-Attenuated Vaccines
Live-attenuated vaccines work in a similar way to inactive vaccines. However, the virus is still alive when it’s injected!
The word “attenuated” means “weakened.” It may sound crazy to inject a living virus into a patient, but the germ is weak enough that it will not cause infection. The body will produce antibodies in response to the weak virus.
What was the first vaccine?
The first ever vaccine was a live-attenuated vaccine. It was against smallpox. Patients were inoculated with a virus similar to smallpox: cowpox. Cowpox is not fatal in humans. The patients’ bodies made antibodies against cowpox, and so they could also resist smallpox.
Live-attenuated vaccines are still used today. Some common ones include the chickenpox and the MMR vaccines. This type of vaccine produces many antibodies, and so often requires only one or two doses to reach immunity. In rare cases, they can cause sickness. This happens most often in people with weak immune systems. It’s important to see a doctor before receiving one. The vaccines also needs to be kept cool. This can make it difficult to transport them to rural areas.
mRNA Vaccines
The mRNA vaccine is a new type of vaccine. However, mRNA technology has been progressing for decades.
What is mRNA?
The “m” in mRNA stands for messenger. RNA stands for ribonucleic acid. RNA has a structure that is complementary to DNA. DNA is copied into RNA, which is then translated into proteins. The typical process for protein production goes DNA-> RNA-> Protein. Similar to DNA, RNA is made up of the same basic code in all living things. This allows viruses to hijack cells and make their own proteins.
What’s the difference between traditional vaccines and mRNA vaccines?
Traditional vaccines inject the patient with a weak or dead form of the virus. mRNA vaccines provide instructions on how to make a viral protein. The viral protein produced will not cause infection. The body will then make antibodies which target the viral protein. Cells also break down mRNA quickly after it is used.
The Moderna & Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines
The Covid-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. Sars-CoV-2 is the virus which causes Covid-19. It has a large surface protein called the spike protein. The vaccine contains mRNA coding for the spike protein. Your cells make the spike protein, and then the body produces antibodies which target the spike protein. When someone catches Covid-19 later, they’re able to fight the virus.
Toxoid Vaccines
Typical vaccines focus on helping the body kill germs. Toxoid vaccines target a molecule the germ produces. Bacteria often cause infection by producing a toxin. Antibodies can target the toxin rather than the germ. The tetanus vaccine is a toxoid vaccine. Toxoid vaccines usually need booster shots to stay effective over time.
Virus-Like Particles
The body will make antibodies if it *thinks* there’s a virus, even if there is not. Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines use a molecule whose structure is similar to the virus. However, the VLP does not contain any viral DNA. Essentially, a VLP is “sheep in wolves’ clothing.” As the particle “looks like” the virus, the antibodies are effective against the virus. VLP vaccines include the HPV vaccine.
Viral Vector Vaccines
Viral vector vaccines use viruses’ ability to invade cells to their advantage. A “vector” is something which carries DNA to cells. Viruses inject host cells with their DNA. Host cells then turn the DNA into viral proteins. This means viruses are good at delivering DNA to cells. A viral vector vaccine uses a virus to deliver DNA instructions on how to make antibodies. The viral vector no longer delivers its own DNA. This means it will not cause sickness. Additionally, the viral vector is not the virus the vaccine is for.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a common cold virus. The vector delivers DNA to make the spike protein. The cells then make antibodies in response to the spike protein.
Glossary
Antibodies: Proteins produced by the immune system to fight germs
DNA: Codes genetic information for all traits in a living organism
Inoculate: To introduce a substance into the body to stimulate the immune system and prevent infection
mRNA: Type of RNA that is an intermediary between DNA and proteins
Pathogen: A germ or small particle that can cause infection in plants and animals. Includes viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Proteins: Type of nutrient found in plants and animals. Used for many cell functions.
RNA: Similar in structure to DNA. Reads, or transcribes, instructions from DNA. There are many different kinds of RNA that carry out various functions in cells.
Sars-CoV-2: Virus which causes Covid-19 infection
Spike Protein: Surface protein of Sars-CoV-2 and other viruses
Vaccine: Mixture which stimulates the body’s immune system to produce antibodies and prevent infection.
Reading Score: 60.28
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Reference
Dai, L., Gao, G.F. 2021. Viral targets for vaccines against COVID-19. Nat Rev Immunol 21, 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-020-00480-0
Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP). “Vaccine Types.” HHS.gov, 6 Dec. 2021, https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/types/index.html.
Moynihan, C. “What Are Virus-like Particles and Why Are They Important?” Pollock Research Lab, 15 July 2019, https://blog.richmond.edu/pollocklab/2019/07/05/what-are-virus-like-particles-and-why-are-they-important/.
Plotkin S. 2014. History of vaccination. Proc Natl Acad Sci 111(34):12283–7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1400472111. Epub 2014 Aug 18. PMID: 25136134; PMCID: PMC4151719.
“What Is the difference between an mRNA and a viral vector vaccine?” CT.gov, 06 July 2021, https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/Vaccine-Knowledge-Base/Articles/mRNA-vs-Viral-Vector?language=en_US.
Author
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