Topic Five
How have vaccines revolutionised the fight against infectious diseases?
Vaccines can help prevent diseases that can kill. Thanks to vaccines, many diseases are eliminated (locally) or eradicated (globally). People in developed countries don’t usually have to worry about the danger of infectious diseases. COVID-19 reminds us about the impact and danger diseases can have in other parts of the world. Life has returned almost to normal now we have a vaccine against it.
LEARNING INTENTIONS
- Understand the history of vaccine development, from variolation to modern vaccines.
- Understand the key figures in vaccine science, including Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur and Ian Frazer.
- Recognise the social impact of vaccines and their role in disease prevention.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
- Explain the difference between variolation and vaccination.
- Identify significant contributions by scientists like Jenner, Pasteur and Frazer.
- Describe how vaccines prevent disease and the importance of herd immunity.
- Discuss the ethical considerations in vaccine development and distribution.
Vaccines and Vaccinations
Vaccines train our body how to fight against specific pathogens. They often contain a weakened or dead version of the microorganism. Some vaccines contain proteins or toxins from the outside of the germ. The body learns to recognise the germ as dangerous without getting infected and sick first.
Vaccination is when a vaccine is given to someone and has been widely studied and shown to be safe and effective. Vaccination is the best method of preventing infectious diseases. Dangerous diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus are no longer a big problem because so many people have been vaccinated.
In this video, Prof. Ian Frazer, co-inventor of the HPV vaccine, shares his journey of discovery and development that has brought us closer to eradicating cervical cancer. His work highlights how vaccines can drastically reduce infections and save lives. Prof. Frazer’s insight into teamwork, ethical science, and long-lasting immunity illustrates the profound impact of vaccination on global health.