Edward Jenner (1749-1823) – father of vaccination,
developed a vaccine for smallpox
Vaccine consists of dead or weakened bacteria or
viruses, or modified bacterial poisons
 The organism or poison act as an antigen, but
because it is modified or weakened, it can no
longer cause disease
 When vaccine is injected into the body, the
immune system responds to it as it would be the
pathogen and produces antibodies or killer T cells
 So, immunity is gained without suffering through
the disease

Risks
Benefits
 Possible toxic effects
 Total elimination of
of chemicals such as
diseases
mercury in vaccines
 Prevention of
epidemics & pandemics  Possible overload of
the immune system
 Decreased health-care
 Possible links with
costs
autism
 Prevention harmful
side-effects of diseases