How a vaccine trains the immune system
In short: A vaccine shows the immune system something that resembles a germ, so it can recognise the real germ quickly later.
1. A vaccine contains something that resembles a germ, such as a weakened form or one of its proteins. 2. The immune system recognises it as a threat and destroys it. 3. Memory cells form, able to make antibodies quickly if the antigen appears again. 4. If the real germ appears in the future, the immune system recognises it. 5. Immunological memory lets the immune system start its response quickly.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Memory B cell (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0); Wikipedia, “Immunological memory (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0); Wikipedia, “Vaccine (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0). General education only, not medical advice.
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Sources
- Source: Wikipedia: Memory B cell (Wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Also: Wikipedia: Immunological memory (Wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Also: Vaccine
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