Vaccines & Sera (Universal Immunization Program Schedules)
VACCINES & SERA (UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM SCHEDULES)
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Introduction
· Vaccines and sera are
critical tools in public health for preventing and controlling infectious
diseases.
· They play a vital
role in the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), which aims to provide timely
and equitable immunization to all children and pregnant women.
Definition
· Vaccines
o Vaccines are
biological preparations that provide active acquired immunity to a particular
infectious disease.
o They typically
contain an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often
made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its
surface proteins.
· Sera
o Sera (plural of
serum) are preparations that contain antibodies obtained from the blood serum
of an immune individual or animal.
o They are used to
provide passive immunity against diseases.
Classification
1.
Based on the Type of Immunity Provided
o
Active Immunity: Provided by vaccines.
o
Passive Immunity: Provided by sera.
2.
Based on Composition
o
Live Attenuated Vaccines: Contain live, but
weakened, forms of the microorganism (e.g., MMR vaccine, BCG vaccine).
o
Inactivated Vaccines: Contain killed
microorganisms (e.g., Hepatitis A vaccine, IPV).
o
Subunit, Recombinant, Polysaccharide, and Conjugate
Vaccines: Contain parts of the microorganism (e.g., Hepatitis B vaccine, Hib
vaccine).
o
Toxoid Vaccines: Contain inactivated toxins produced by
the microorganism (e.g., Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccines).
o
mRNA Vaccines: Contain messenger RNA that encodes a
part of the virus, teaching cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune
response (e.g., COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech).
o
Viral Vector Vaccines: Use a modified virus
to deliver genetic material into cells to stimulate an immune response (e.g.,
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine).
3.
Based on the Method of Administration
o
Oral Vaccines: e.g., Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
o
Intramuscular Vaccines: e.g., DTP, Hepatitis
B.
o
Subcutaneous Vaccines: e.g., MMR.
Pharmacokinetics
1.
Absorption: Vaccines are usually administered via
injection (intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal) or orally.
2.
Distribution: After administration, the vaccine's
components are distributed to the immune system's cells (e.g., lymph nodes)
where they trigger an immune response.
3.
Metabolism: Vaccines are generally not metabolized
in the same way as traditional drugs.
4.
Excretion: The components of the vaccine that are
not utilized by the body are eventually broken down and excreted.
Mechanism of Action
·
Vaccines
o
Vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to recognize and fight
pathogens (viruses, bacteria).
o
They introduce an antigen (a piece of the pathogen) to the body, which
triggers the immune response.
o
The immune system then produces antibodies and memory cells, which help
in protecting the individual from future infections.
·
Sera
o
Sera provide passive immunity by directly introducing antibodies into
the bloodstream.
o
These antibodies neutralize the pathogen or its toxins, offering
immediate, but temporary, protection.
Uses
·
Vaccines: Prevent various infectious diseases
such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, and
influenza.
·
Sera: Used in the treatment of specific
conditions like snake bites (anti-venom sera), botulism, and diphtheria
(antitoxin sera).
Adverse Effects
·
Vaccines
o
Mild: Fever, redness, or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, and
mild rash.
o
Severe: Anaphylaxis (rare), seizures (very rare), intussusception (with
rotavirus vaccine, rare).
·
Sera
o
Mild: Fever, chills, rash.
o
Severe: Serum sickness (a delayed hypersensitivity reaction),
anaphylactic shock.
Contraindications
·
Vaccines
o
Severe allergic reactions to previous doses or components of the
vaccine.
o
Immunocompromised individuals (for live vaccines).
o
Pregnancy (for certain vaccines like MMR).
·
Sera
o
Previous severe allergic reactions to sera.
o
Immunocompromised individuals (risk of infections from animal-derived
sera).
Role of Nurse
1.
Assessment
o
Evaluate the patient's health status and immunization history.
o
Screen for contraindications and allergies.
2.
Education
o
Provide information on the benefits, risks, and side effects of vaccines
and sera.
o
Educate about the importance of following the UIP schedules.
3.
Administration
o
Administer vaccines according to recommended schedules and techniques.
o
Ensure proper storage and handling of vaccines and sera.
4.
Monitoring
o
Observe patients post-vaccination for adverse reactions.
o
Report any adverse events following immunization (AEFI) to the
appropriate authorities.
5.
Record Keeping
o
Maintain accurate records of immunizations given.
o
Ensure documentation is complete and up-to-date.
6.
Advocacy
o
Promote immunization programs within the community.
o
Address vaccine hesitancy and provide evidence-based information to
parents and caregivers.
Universal Immunization Program (UIP)
Schedules
· The UIP schedule
includes vaccines that are provided to all eligible children and pregnant women
to protect against several life-threatening diseases.
· The schedule is
regularly updated based on the latest evidence and recommendations.
·
At Birth: BCG, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV 0),
Hepatitis B (HepB-0).
·
6 Weeks: DPT (1st dose), OPV (1st dose), HepB
(1st dose), Hib, IPV, Rotavirus.
·
10 Weeks: DPT (2nd dose), OPV (2nd dose), Hib,
IPV, Rotavirus.
·
14 Weeks: DPT (3rd dose), OPV (3rd dose), Hib,
IPV, Rotavirus.
·
9-12 Months: Measles/MMR, JE vaccine (in endemic
areas).
·
16-24 Months: DPT (Booster), OPV (Booster), Hib
(Booster), Measles/MMR (2nd dose).
·
5-6 Years: DPT (Booster).
·
10 and 16 Years: Tetanus Toxoid (TT).
For pregnant women:
·
TT (2 doses) or Td (1 dose with a 2nd booster).
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