A nurse is counseling patients at a health clinic on the importance of immunizations. Which of the following information is the most accurate regarding immunizations?
A. All infectious diseases can be prevented with proper immunization.
B. Immunizations provide natural immunity from disease.
C. Immunizations are risk-free and should be universally administered.
D. Immunization provides acquired immunity from some specific diseases.
Correct Answer: D. Immunization provides acquired immunity from some specific diseases.
Immunization is available for the prevention of some, but not all, specific diseases. This type of immunity is “acquired” by causing antibodies to form in response to a specific pathogen. Live vaccines are more effective than killed vaccines because they retain more antigens of the microbes. However, toxoids, including those that cause tetanus and diphtheria, are the most effective bacterial vaccines of all because they are based on inactivated exotoxins that stimulate strong antibody production. Subunit vaccines, including hepatitis B, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae B vaccines are effective when conjugated to carrier proteins such as tetanus toxoid.
Option A: Immunizations can prevent some, but not all, infectious diseases. The current immunizations protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal pneumonia, smallpox, sepsis, meningitis, hepatitis B, varicella-zoster, tuberculosis, cholera, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, salmonellosis, and dengue.
Option B: Natural immunity is present at birth because the infant acquires maternal antibodies. Innate (natural) immunity is so named because it is present at birth and does not have to be learned through exposure to an invader. It thus provides an immediate response to foreign invaders. However, its components treat all foreign invaders in much the same way.
Option C: Immunization, like all medication, cannot be risk-free and should be considered based on the risk of the disease in question. Most vaccines have adverse reactions as any drug or medication. For example, BCG vaccination may provoke fever, vomiting, hematuria, lymphadenitis, and redness at the site of injection. HiB vaccine has few adverse reactions, and none of them are dangerous. These reactions include redness, warmth, swelling, and fever over 101 degrees F. A rare and lethal adverse reaction secondary to vaccination is the Guillain-Barre syndrome.