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Vaccines

Author: Amanda Soderlind

Source: Video and Images Created by Amanda Soderlind

Video Transcript
Terms to Know
Active Immunity

Also known as specific immunity, active immunity is carried out by T & B lymphocytes and reacts to specific antigens of cells; active immunity also produces memory cells to target the same pathogen if we are ever exposed to it again.

Antigen

A unique chemical marker found on the surface of cells that have the potential to stimulate an immune response; antigens are basically the identity marker of cells for the immune system to see.

Booster Shot

Not every vaccine has lifelong effects; when antibody levels decline after a certain period of time, a booster shot is given to bring them back up again.

Vaccine

A therapy that involves injecting an attenuated pathogen (or more likely, a fragment of a pathogen) into a person to induce active immunity; vaccines prepare a person for when they are naturally exposed to specific pathogens by stimulating them to already have the proper antibodies and memory cells in their systems.