Vaccination vs. immunisation NOVEMBER 14, 2014 BY OLUFEMI OBOYE 0 COMMENTS print Olufemi Oboye Olufemi Oboye | credits: File copy Vaccination’ and ‘immunisation’ are often used interchangeably but their meanings are not exactly the same, and it can be quite tricky. Vaccination, according to Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, means to inject a suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (a vaccine) for prevention or treatment of infectious disease. In other words, during vaccination, a harmless version of a germ is introduced to the body and the immune system responds by producing antibodies to attack the intruder. Thereafter, a memory of this “invasion” remains so that the immune system can quickly recognise and neutralise disease-causing agents whenever they appear in the future. Immunisation, according to the World Health Organisation, is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease. It is the state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. It is also interesting to note that immunity can occur with or without vaccination. For example, the Ebola survivors have been immunised without being vaccinated because their immune system has produced antibodies against the Ebola virus. On the other hand, there is also a possibility that you can be vaccinated and not immunised if the vaccine breaks down or fails. Causes of vaccination failure Vaccination failure occurs when an organism develops a disease in spite of being vaccinated against it. A few causes of failure may be as a result of the use of a different serotype from the challenged virus. Secondly, the antibodies of the mother which protects the baby may interfere with vaccine presentation. Thirdly, if the cold chain is broken during vaccine preservation or administration, the vaccine virus may become denatured or inactivated. Finally, the vaccine virus may be ineffective if it is manufactured incorrectly, for example containing insufficient antigen or live virus. Side effects of vaccination In some cases, the reactions or side effects can be worse than the disease they are being used to prevent. If these side effects last for more than a day or two, or cause your pet significant discomfort, it is important for you to contact your veterinarian. Some common side effects include, but are not limited to, discomfort and local swelling at the vaccination site, mild fever, decreased appetite and activity, sneezing, mild coughing, “snotty nose” or other respiratory signs may occur two to five days after your pet receives an intranasal vaccine More serious, but less common side effects, such as allergic reactions, may occur within minutes to hours after vaccination. These reactions can be life-threatening and are medical emergencies. Seek veterinary care immediately if any of these signs develop: Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, itchy skin that may seem bumpy (“hives”), swelling of the muzzle and around the face, neck, or eyes, severe coughing or difficulty breathing, collapse. A small, firm swelling under the skin may develop at the site of a recent vaccination. It should start to disappear within a couple of weeks. If it persists more than three weeks, or seems to be getting larger, you should contact your veterinarian. Always inform your veterinarian if your pet has had prior reactions to any vaccine or medication. If in doubt, wait for 30-60 minutes following vaccination before taking your pet home. Vaccination schedule for pets The most common vaccine for dogs is called the DHLPP. The name is an acronym coined from the first letters of the five acute viral diseases the vaccine confers immunity against. These diseases include Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Para influenza and Parvo virus. Distemper is an infectious disease that usually affects young dogs. The clinical signs include lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting. Canine parvovirus type-2 is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. Parvo is highly contagious and mortality can reach 91percent in untreated cases. The disease is characterised by diarrhoea, which progresses to become foul smelling and bloody. Canine parvovirus may infect other mammals; however, it will not infect humans Infectious canine hepatitis is an acute liver infection in dogs. Symptoms include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, a tender abdomen, and signs of liver disease, such as jaundice and vomiting. Leptospirosis is a febrile disease. The symptoms can range from very mild to more serious, even life threatening form, that may be associated with kidney failure. Canine influenza is commonly called “dog flu”. Most infected dogs have mild symptoms, including a persistent cough that can be moist or dry. Symptoms may then progress to nasal discharge that becomes thick and green, and a fever. Severely affected dogs develop a high fever and pronounced signs of pneumonia. Your pet should receive at least, three doses of the DHLPP vaccination. The first shot should be administered as early as five weeks if your pet’s mum was not immunised, and 6-8 weeks if she was immunised. Subsequently, two booster doses (a supplementary injection of a vaccine given to maintain the immunisation provided by an earlier dose) should be administered 3-4 weeks apart. The last but not the least vaccination for dogs is the Canine Rabies vaccination. This vaccination is very important because rabies is 100 percent fatal to dogs, with no treatment available. This vaccine can be administered in one dose, as early as three months of age. However, for some personal reasons, I always prefer to administer this vaccine a little later. The Canine Rabies Vaccination requires that annual booster doses are administered. 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Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 06:39:00 +0000
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