Pharmacology
Vaccines and National Health Programmes
Vaccines and immunisation for MBBS and NEET-PG: live and inactivated vaccines, cold chain, active and passive immunity and the Universal Immunisation Programme, mapped to NMC codes.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Vaccines and National Health Programmes
Vaccines and immunisation for MBBS and NEET-PG: live and inactivated vaccines, cold chain, active and passive immunity and the Universal Immunisation Programme, mapped to NMC codes.
This chapter covers vaccines, immunisation and the national health programmes that deliver them. It explains the types of vaccine, the principles of active and passive immunisation, the cold chain and the components of India's Universal Immunisation Programme, linking pharmacology to public health.
High-yield: Vaccines and National Health Programmes
- Live attenuated vaccines such as BCG, oral polio and measles are generally avoided in pregnancy and immunodeficiency.
- Inactivated and subunit vaccines are safer in immunocompromised patients but often need booster doses.
- The cold chain maintains vaccine potency from manufacture to administration and is central to any immunisation programme.
- BCG is given at birth in the Indian schedule to protect against severe childhood tuberculosis.
- Oral polio vaccine is live and helps interrupt transmission, while inactivated polio vaccine is injected and cannot cause vaccine-derived polio.
- The pentavalent vaccine combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
- Tetanus toxoid provides active immunity, while tetanus immunoglobulin gives immediate passive protection after a high-risk wound.
- Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis combines wound washing, rabies vaccine and, for severe exposures, rabies immunoglobulin.
- Passive immunisation with antibodies gives rapid but short-lived protection, useful for immediate cover.
- Active immunisation with vaccines gives slower but durable protection and immunological memory.
- The Universal Immunisation Programme provides free vaccines against major childhood diseases across India.
- Common vaccine adverse effects are mild fever and local soreness; serious reactions are rare.
- Herd immunity protects the unvaccinated when a high proportion of a population is immunised.
- Pharmacovigilance systems track adverse events following immunisation to maintain vaccine safety.
Immunisation essentials
- **Live vaccines:** BCG, oral polio, measles; avoid in pregnancy and immunodeficiency.
- **Active immunity:** Vaccines give slow, durable protection with memory.
- **Passive immunity:** Immunoglobulins give rapid, short-lived protection.
- **Cold chain:** Maintains vaccine potency from manufacture to the point of use.
NMC competencies in this chapter
- **PH1.54:** Immunisation, vaccines and sera
- **PH1.55:** Drugs and vaccines in national health programmes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do active and passive immunisation differ?
Active immunisation with vaccines produces slow but lasting immunity with memory, while passive immunisation with antibodies gives immediate but short-lived protection.
Why are live vaccines avoided in pregnancy?
Live attenuated organisms carry a theoretical risk to the fetus, so vaccines such as measles and oral polio are generally deferred in pregnancy.
What is the cold chain?
It is the temperature-controlled supply system that keeps vaccines potent from the manufacturer to the child, and any break can render a vaccine ineffective.
How is a high-risk wound managed for tetanus?
With tetanus toxoid for active immunity and tetanus immunoglobulin for immediate passive cover, alongside proper wound care.
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