Elusvaktsiinid

Elusvaktsiinid, also known as live-attenuated vaccines, are a type of vaccine that uses a weakened or attenuated form of a live virus or bacterium. These weakened pathogens are still capable of replicating within the body but are significantly less likely to cause disease in healthy individuals. The attenuation process is typically achieved through repeated culturing in laboratory settings, which alters the organism's characteristics.

The primary advantage of elusvaktsiinid is their ability to elicit a strong and long-lasting immune response. Because the weakened pathogen can replicate, it mimics a natural infection more closely than inactivated or subunit vaccines. This replication stimulates both antibody-mediated immunity and cell-mediated immunity, often leading to immunity that can last for many years, sometimes even a lifetime, after just one or two doses.

Examples of common elusvaktsiinid include the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and the oral polio vaccine (OPV), though the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is now more widely used in many regions. Elusvaktsiinid are generally safe for most people, but they are typically not recommended for individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, as the attenuated pathogen could potentially cause illness in these vulnerable populations. Their use and recommendation are carefully considered by public health authorities.