Vaccine

It has been shown that with an effective vaccine, it is possible to contain and even eradicate a highly transmissible and deadly viruses as smallpox. Smallpox which caused high mortalities and disfigurement in the 17 and 18^th centuries is eradicated from the surface of our planet thanks to the advent of vaccine. Polio will be the second pathogen to be eradicated before the end of this decade. The last battle to eradicate poliovirus from the globe is underway in Africa and in the Indian subcontinent. 

Vaccine can be made from live attenuated organisms or from its components extracted by chemical methods or synthesized from de novo. 

 

Live vaccine

Ø      Poliovirus

Ø      Measles

Ø      Mumps

Ø      Rubella

Ø      Chickenpox

Ø      Yellow fever vaccine

 

Live vaccine are contraindicated for

v     Immunocompromised patients

v     Pregnant women

 

 

Inactivated vaccine

Ø   Poliovirus

Ø   Influenza vaccine

Ø   Hepatitis A

Ø   Japanese encephalitis

Ø   Tick borne encephalitis

Ø   Rabies

Inactivated vaccine can be given to immunocompromised patients. Although there is no evidence to suggest adverse effects of these vaccines in pregnant women, they should be advised to postpone vaccination unless the potential hazards of having infection outweigh the theoretical adverse effects of the inactivated vaccine. Some experts advocate the use of influenza vaccine for pregnant women and children during influenza seasons.

 

Recombinant protein

Ø      Hepatitis B

 

Vaccination is indicated for health care workers and for people who have high risk of acquiring infection.

There are a number of different course of vaccine. The widely used one is a three dose vaccine given at 0, 1 and 6 months.

 

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Childhood Immunisation schedules

 

Age	Vaccination
0 (at birth)	BCG
2 month	DPT, Polio, Haemophilus b, Meningococcal C
3 month	DPT, Polio, Haemophilus B, Meningococcal C
4  month	DPT, Polio, Haemophilus B, Meningococcal C
9 or 15 months	MMR, Chickenpox vaccine
4 years	MMR

 

 

 

 

 

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Travellers vaccination

 

Vaccination is not required for those travelling to Western European countries and North America

 

Travellers to countries in Africa generally requires vaccination for

• Meningococcal meningitis A, C, W

• Yellow fever

• Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis A

• Typhoid fever

 

 

Travellers to central European Countries and Russia

• Tick borne encephalitis

 

Travellers to Countries in South East Asia

•  Japanese encephalitis

 

 

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Annual immunisation for elderly patients

 

• Influenza A and B