Question

Read the following statements (A-D) related to vaccination and identify how many of the statement/s is/are true.

A. Vaccines cause autism.
B. Vaccines contain dangerous toxins.
C. Vaccines can infect people with the same disease against which vaccination is done.
D. Some of the symptoms of the disease can appear after vaccination.

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 1

Answer 1

The correct option is D 1

Vaccination refers to the administration of any vaccine.

Vaccines generate primary immune response in the body. Primary immune response is mounted as a result of the first encounter of an organism with an antigen. It generates memory B and T cells. When the vaccinated person is infected by the same pathogen, the existing memory B and T cells recognise the antigen quickly and responds faster with a massive production of lymphocytes and antibodies.

Figure: Memory T cell and Memory B cell

Vaccines cause autism is a myth. There have been a lot of studies which have shown that there is no evidence of a link between any vaccine and autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. People with this condition are lacking in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication etc. It is caused mainly due to genetic mutations and environmental effects.

Another common myth is that vaccines contain dangerous toxins. The fact is that some vaccines contain chemicals like formaldehyde and mercury, but their concentration is below harmful levels and have been approved as safe by the healthcare authorities.

A common myth is that vaccines infect people with the disease instead of preventing it. However the fact is that vaccines can cause symptoms to appear, but they are not because of the disease. The symptoms are a response of our body’s immune system against the vaccine.

Hence, only one statement, D is true.