How do vaccines cause immunisation to disease?

Vaccines contain an inactive form of a pathogen, or dead pathogen, and are injected into the body to give immunity to that pathogen. The inactive pathogen acts as an antigen, stimulating an immune response, and the white blood cells produce antibodies specific to the pathogen. This means if an active form of the pathogen enters the body, the white blood cells will be able to rapidly make the specific antibody that is required, and the pathogen will be destroyed. As the pathogen in the vaccine is inactive, it will not do any harm.

RY
Answered by Rachael Y. Biology tutor

3492 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How are animals adapted for effective gas exchange?


Describe the different environmental factors that affect the direction of root and shoot growth


Name the four stages of mitosis


What is osmosis? A diagram may be useful for your explanation


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning