Vaccination
Immune Response Activation:
The immune system responds by producing antibodies and activating immune cells to target the antigens.
This process helps the body "learn" how to fight the specific pathogen without causing the disease.
Memory Formation:
After vaccination, the immune system retains a memory of the antigen.
If the person is later exposed to the actual pathogen, the immune system can respond more rapidly and effectively, often preventing illness or reducing its severity.
- Approval: The vaccine is approved for use in:
-Females: 9-45 years old
-Males: 9-26 years old (Gardasil and Gardasil 9)
-Administration:
-2 doses (0, 6-12 months) for those who start the series before age 15
-3 doses (0, 1-2 months, 6 months) for those who start the series at age 15 or older
- Eligibility: The vaccine is recommended for:
-Preteens (11-12 years old)
-Teenagers (13-18 years old)
-Young adults (19-26 years old)
-Adults (27-45 years old) who have not previously received the vaccine.
Hepatitis B Vaccine:
- Eligibility: The vaccine is recommended for:
- All infants
- Children and adolescents not previously vaccinated
- Adults with certain medical conditions (e.g., liver disease, HIV)
- Adults with certain occupations (e.g., healthcare workers)
- Adults with certain lifestyle factors (e.g., injection drug use, multiple sex partners)
Rubella (German Measles) Vaccine:
Purpose: Protects against rubella, a viral infection that can cause serious birth defects if a woman contracts it during pregnancy.
Impact: Immunizing women of childbearing age against rubella prevents congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in newborns, which can lead to heart defects, developmental delays, and hearing impairments.
Integrating Vaccination into SRHR Programs
Types of Vaccines
Live Attenuated Vaccines:
Contain weakened forms of the live pathogen.
Examples: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and chickenpox vaccine.
Inactivated Vaccines:
Contain killed pathogens.
Examples: Polio vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine.
Subunit, Recombinant, Conjugate, and Polysaccharide Vaccines:
Contain specific pieces of the pathogen (e.g., protein, sugar).
Common Side Effects
Mild side effects: Pain or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, fatigue.
Rare serious side effects: Severe allergic reactions, which are very uncommon.
Public Health Impact
Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, saving millions of lives each year. It plays a crucial role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases, reducing morbidity and mortality, and contributing to global health security.
Definition
Vaccination is a medical procedure that involves administering a vaccine to stimulate an individual's immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses. The primary goal of vaccination is to prevent infectious diseases by preparing the immune system to respond more effectively to future exposures to disease-causing agents.
Vaccination in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
Vaccination plays a crucial role in the realm of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), contributing to the prevention of infections that can significantly impact sexual and reproductive health.
Integrating vaccination into SRHR programs can enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals by preventing diseases that can lead to severe complications, including infertility, cancer, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
-Effectiveness: The vaccine is highly effective (90-100%) in preventing HPV-related diseases.
-Booster doses: Not typically recommended
Additional information:
- Gardasil 9 protects against 9 HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, 6, and 11)
- Cervarix protects against 2 HPV types (16 and 18)
- Gardasil protects against 4 HPV types (16, 18, 6, and 11)
Hepatitis B Vaccine:
-Vaccine Name: Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B, Recombivax HB)
-Functionality: The vaccine protects against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which can cause liver disease and liver cancer.
-Approval: The vaccine is approved for use in infants, children, and adults.
- Effectiveness: The vaccine is highly effective (90-100%) in preventing HBV infection and related liver disease.
- Booster doses: Not typically recommended, but may be considered for certain individuals (e.g., those with weakened immune systems).
Purpose: Protects against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which can lead to chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Impact: Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sexual contact, from mother to child during childbirth, and through shared needles. Vaccination prevents these transmissions, thereby protecting sexual and reproductive health.
Monkey Pox Vaccine
The monkeypox vaccine is called JYNNEOS.
- Functionality: JYNNEOS is a third-generation vaccine based on a live, attenuated orthopoxvirus, Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) ¹.
- Approval: JYNNEOS is fully licensed in the U.S. for subcutaneous administration in individuals 18 years of age and older.
- Administration: The vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart.
Examples: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine
Toxoid Vaccines:
Contain inactivated toxins produced by the pathogen.
Examples: Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccines.
mRNA Vaccines:
Contains messenger RNA that instructs cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response.
Examples: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
How Vaccines Work
Introduction of Antigen:
A vaccine contains antigens, which are components or mimics of the pathogens (like proteins, parts of the pathogen, or weakened/inactivated forms of the pathogen).
When introduced into the body, these antigens are recognized as foreign by the immune system, which then mounts an immune response to the antigen by producing antibodies against the pathogen.
Key Vaccines in SRHR
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine:
Vaccine Name: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil, Cervarix, Gardasil 9)
- Functionality: The vaccine protects against certain types of HPV that can cause:
- Cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers
- Genital warts
- Oropharyngeal cancer (throat cancer)
Purpose: Protects against HPV infections, which can cause cervical, anal, and other genital cancers, as well as genital warts.
Impact: HPV vaccination significantly reduces the incidence of cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. It is recommended for pre-teens (both boys and girls) to ensure protection before potential exposure to the virus.
- Administration:
-Infants: 3 doses (birth, 1-2 months, 6-18 months)
-Children and adolescents: 3 doses (0, 1-2 months, 4-6 months)
-Adults: 3 doses (0, 1-2 months, 4-6 months) or 2 doses (0, 4-6 months) with a faster schedule
Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine:
-Purpose: Protects against tetanus, which can be contracted during childbirth in unsanitary conditions.
Impact: Vaccination of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid reduces the risk of maternal and neonatal tetanus, improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Eligibility: The vaccine is recommended for people at risk of occupational exposure to orthopoxviruses and people aged 18 years and older at risk of mpox during an mpox outbreak.
- Effectiveness: Two doses are known to be more effective than one dose; even when infections have occurred after two vaccine doses, they have typically been milder than the infections among people who are not vaccinated ¹.
Benefits of Vaccination
Disease Prevention: Vaccines can prevent many serious and potentially deadly diseases.
Herd Immunity: High vaccination coverage can protect those who cannot be vaccinated (e.g., due to medical conditions) by reducing the spread of disease.
Reduction in Disease Complications: Vaccines can reduce the severity of illness and complications if vaccinated individuals contract the disease.
Eradication of Diseases: Successful vaccination campaigns have led to the eradication or near-eradication of diseases like smallpox and polio in many parts of the world
Compiled by Dr.Mutunga Godfrey
Medical Officer Ark Wellness Hub
Sources
CDC
WHO
NIH
MEDSCAPE
UPTODATE