- Vaccines contain weakened or killed parts of bacteria and viruses to stimulate the immune system and prevent infectious diseases from spreading. The goal is to induce immunity against potential future infections.
- Different types of vaccines include live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, toxoid, and conjugate vaccines. They work by exposing the body to antigens in a way that triggers protective antibodies and memory immune cells.
- Vaccines are administered via injection or mucosal surfaces to induce both systemic immunity and local immune responses where pathogens enter the body. This interrupts disease transmission and prevents infections.