GCSE Biology- Vaccination and immunisation

Vaccination and immunisation

People can be given a vaccination to make them immune to a harmful pathogen, so they won't become ill if exposed to the disease.

The process of immunisation 

1) A weakened or genetically modifed version of the pathogen is found or made

2) This harmless pathogen is injected into the body

3) The body recognises that the antigens on these cells, triggering an immune response

4) White blood cells (lymphocytes) produce antibodies which destroy the pathogens

5) The antigens also trigger the productions of memory lymphocytes - white blood cells remeber the pathogen. If the body is infected again, the lymphocytes can make antibodes a lot quicker so we don't…