Vaccination introduces a weak or dead version of a pathogen to the body to bring about immunity. Public vaccination can bring herd immunity for some diseases.
pathogenMicroorganism that causes disease. are microbes that cause diseaseIllness affecting plants and animals.. Immunity to a pathogen can be developed by vaccination.
vaccineSubstances containing disabled antigens of a particular disease, usually administered via injection. Vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies to provide immunity against that disease. contain antigenA protein on the surface of a substance (often a pathogen) that triggers an immune response. from a specific infectious pathogen. The antigens used in vaccines can be inactivated pathogen toxins, dead pathogens,
parts of pathogens, and weakened pathogens.
These are introduced to the body. This causes the immune system, specifically the white blood cellA type of cell found in blood that defends against infection., to produce complementary antibodyA protein produced by the immune system in humans (and other animals) that attacks foreign organisms (antigens) that get into the body., which target and attach to the antigen. When a white blood cell engulfs and digests a pathogen it is called phagocytosis.
This causes the immune system, specifically the white blood cellA type of cell found in blood that defends against infection., to produce complementary antibodyA protein produced by the immune system in humans (and other animals) that attacks foreign organisms (antigens) that get into the body., which target and attach to the antigen. When a white blood cell engulfs and digests a pathogen it is called phagocytosis.