Vaccines, Sera and Other Immunological Agents 433coccal vaccine from polysaccharide antigen
of the cell wall, pneumococcal vaccine from
polysaccharides contained in the capsule
of the organism and hepatitis B polysac-
charide vaccine.
Combined Vaccines
When more than one kind of immuniz-
ing agents are included in the vaccines, it
is known as mixed or combined vaccine.
For example, DPT (diphtheriapertussistet-
anus), MMR (measlesmumpsrubella), DT
(diphtheriatetanus), DP (diphtheriapertus-
sis) etc.
The various types of vaccines and the
immunization schedule are listed in table
13.1.1.
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
There are five major classes IgG, IgM,
IgA, IgD and IgE, which form human
immunoglobulin system. The various
classes and sub-classes of immunoglobulin
represent different functional groups that
are required to meet different types of
antigenic challenges (Table 13.1.2).
Normal human Ig: Normal human Ig is
an antibody rich fraction and used to prevent
measles in highly susceptible individuals and
also provide protection against hepatitis A
& B, mumps, poliomyelitis and chicken pox.
Specific human Ig: These preparation
are made from the plasma of the patients
who have recently recovered from infection.
The specific human Ig are used for the
prophylaxis of chicken pox and hepatitis
B, rabies and tetanus.
The various immunoglobulins used for
passive immunization are listed in table 13.1.3.
VACCINATION PROGRAMMES
The result of vaccination programmes
have been very impressive. The treatment
of certain infectious diseases have been
drastically reduced, with their virtual
elimination from some countries where
they formerly caused considerable disability
and many deaths. Vaccination has also
opened up the possibility of completely
eradicating some diseases from the face of
the earth e.g. small pox and polio.
The general schedule of vaccination
age-wise is listed below in table 13.1.4.VACCINE PREPARATIONSTB (BCG VACCINE)
This vaccine is routinely given to infants
and small children in countries where TB is
common. This vaccine contains a live
attenuated (weakened) strain of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium
which causes tuberculosis. The bacterium
has been modified to produce a strain
known as Bacille Calmette-Guerin, named
after its discoverer. Killed vaccines (strain)
can not be used to protect against
tuberculosis infection since they do not
produce the necessary cellular immune
response.
A single dose of vaccine is administered
intradermal into the skin over the upper
shoulder area. Protection lasts for several
years.POLIO (OPV)
Poliomyelitis is caused by a highly
infectious virus known to affect only