If one quote sums up how vaccines work, it has to be: “Experience is the best teacher.”

Vaccines teach the immune system how to fight a specific disease by giving it that disease, either a weakened or dead version. Medical advances since the first vaccine have ensured more than one way of vaccines developing your immunity. Given that some diseases are too dangerous to be put purposefully in one’s body in its entirety, it’s safer this way.

With COVID-19 vaccines slowly rolling out, it pays to know the type of vaccine about to put your body to work. Here are some of them.

• Inactivated Vaccine

This vaccine contains the entire bacteria or virus but has been rendered inert or dead through heat or radiation. Sometimes, manufacturers use chemical compounds like beta-propiolactone to create a similar effect by modifying the genetic material.

But as the bacteria or virus is dead, inactivated vaccines can require booster shots later to achieve proper immunity. Encountering a dead foreign body doesn’t incite the immune system as much as a live one, even in its weakened state. 

Some examples of inactivated vaccines include those used against flu, polio, and rabies. COVID-19 vaccines that work this way include those made by Sinovac, SinoPharm, and Bharat Biotech.

• Live-Attenuated Vaccine

As the term implies, a live-attenuated vaccine uses a weakened version of the bacteria or virus for developing immunity. It replicates an infection more accurately than other vaccine types, resulting in more robust and long-lasting protection. 

However, an attenuated bacteria or virus is still alive. It might not be suitable for people with weak immune systems or those still recovering from major surgery. They also need to be kept in a cool place to keep the bacteria or virus alive.

Live-attenuated vaccines were responsible for curing then-incurable diseases like smallpox, yellow fever, and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). In a way, live attenuation directly descended from the insights of the smallpox vaccine made by Edward Jenner near the end of the 18th century.

• Toxoid Vaccine

Instead of using the bacteria or virus itself, toxoid vaccines use the toxin it generates. As a result, the immune system responds to the toxin that causes the disease instead of the foreign body itself. Sometimes, it forms part of a combined vaccine system alongside pieces of the foreign body such as its protein or capsid.

Since the immune system only has to fight off the toxin, these vaccines are suitable for people with weak immune systems. Like inactivated vaccines, however, it requires later booster shots to attain proper immunity to the disease.

The most common example of toxoid vaccines is Tdap and DtaP vaccines, which treat diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. While sharing similar letters, the difference between DtaP and Tdap vaccines boils down to their frequency. For instance, doctors usually give Tdap vaccines every ten years, while DtaP vaccines are administered five times during childhood.

• Viral Vector Vaccine

In a viral vector vaccine, the bacteria or virus it carries is a modified version of the disease, known as a vector. By no means is this the actual disease, but rather a harmless virus whose only purpose is to carry the spike protein. Once it attaches to a cell, the immune system will recognize something that’s not supposed to be there and react instinctively.

Scientists have studied the possibility of using viral vectors for decades. However, these vaccines have only seen widespread use in recent outbreaks like ebola and Zika virus. The current pandemic is no exception, with Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccines employing viral vectors.

• Messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccine

Arguably the latest addition to the long line of vaccines, mRNA vaccines have only been used on the current pandemic. Before, scientists were still studying it as a potential treatment for infectious diseases and cancer.

Whereas other vaccines put an inert or weakened version of the bacteria or virus, mRNA vaccines teach the immune system how to produce a protein. This protein will then trigger the response and encourage it to produce antibodies. It spares the body the trouble of suffering the side effects that come with other vaccines.

Because they’re relatively new, the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines is still up in the air. COVID vaccines by BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna are of mRNA types.

Conclusion

No matter the type of vaccine you end up with, it won’t exempt you from social distancing. Studies have shown that COVID is transmittable by air, rendering the effects of any vaccination pointless.

Since every type of vaccine has its pros and cons, it’s still essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle after getting the vaccine. Enough rest, regular exercise, and a well-balanced diet all contribute to building a strong immune system.