Question

How does vaccination work?

• A. The immune system produces antibodies which stay in the blood
• B. Memory lymphocytes are produced. They remain in the body to fight off any future infection with the live pathogen
• C. The dead pathogen stays in the body and constantly stimulates the immune system
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Memory lymphocytes are produced. They remain in the body to fight off any future infection with the live pathogen

Vaccines are made of dead or weakened antigens that do not cause an infection, however, when they are entered into the body the immune system recognises them as foreign and produce antibodies in response. The antibodies may break down later, but the immune cells called memory lymphocytes will remain in the body. Later, when the body encounters that antigen again, the memory cells will produce antibodies faster, hence generating a faster immune response against the antigen. So, the correct option is 'Memory lymphocytes are produced. They remain in the body to fight off any future infection with the live pathogen'.