Vaccination Course - Semester 1 2024

Vaccination Course - Semester 1 2024

• Course Facilitator: M. SHADRACK T. D. Samuel
• Class Meets: Mondays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Email: [email protected]
• Required Resources: Computer, reliable internet, articles, supplemental materials, and URLs/websites.

Grading

• Class Participation/In-class activities: 15% of final CA mark
• Class attendance: 10% of final CA mark
• Quizzes: 55% of final CA mark
• Assignments: 20% of final CA mark
• Continuous Assessment (CA): 30%
• Semester Exam: 70%

Course Aim

• Equip learners to become nurse and midwife leaders, managers, educators, advocates for patients, quality health services, and the role of nursing in the health agenda.

Instructional Methods

• Lectures, online class discussions, active participation, and computer-generated presentations.
• Recommended readings and online class discussions are expected prior to each lecture.
• Emphasis on utilization of management processes, leadership theories, problem-solving, clinical decision-making, policy analysis, and monitoring.
• Course includes a combination of lecture, online class discussion, and active participation, with computer-generated presentations.

Make-up Exams and Late Assignments

• No make-up exams, except in documented hardship cases.
• One letter grade reduction per day late for assignments.

Vaccine General Information

• Vaccine: An antigenic preparation of microbes (bacteria, viruses, or their products) administered for disease prevention.
• Mechanism: Stimulates the immune system to develop antibodies that quickly and effectively attack disease-causing microbes when they enter the body, preventing disease development.
• Preparation: Contains live-attenuated or killed microorganisms, or parts of them capable of stimulating a specific immune response for protective antibodies and T cell immunity.
• Vaccination Process: Injection of antigens into the body to produce immunity and protect against diseases. It's a process of active immunization, with a primary dose and booster doses.

Immunity

• Immunity: The body's ability to resist diseases and infectious agents.
• Types of Immunity: Roughly different immunity types exist, individualized and/or community level.

Herd Immunity

• Herd Immunity: In a community, immunization of a high proportion (usually 80% or more) to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Vaccine Storage and Handling

• Cold Chain: Materials, equipment, and procedures used to maintain vaccines at a temperature range of 2°C to +8°C from manufacturing to administration.
• Temperature Concerns: Exposure to temperatures outside the specified range can compromise vaccine potency.
• Incident Reporting: If vaccine exposure breaches the required temperature parameters, appropriate action must be taken.

Vaccination Types

• Inactivated: Using inactivated (killed) versions of the germ; may require multiple doses.
• Live Attenuated: Using weakened forms of the germ for a strong and long-lasting response.
• Subunit, Recombinant, Polysaccharide, and Conjugate: Use specific pieces of the germ for response to key parts.
• Toxoid: Using toxins made by germs to create immunity against specific parts of the germ.
• mRNA Vaccines: Designed and used for infections or diseases like COVID-19.

Vaccine Components and Materials

• Active Materials (Antigens): Molecules reacting with T and B cells to induce specific immune responses.
• Inactive Materials (Adjuvants): Enhancer of immune responses, like aluminum salts or other components.
• Preservatives: Prevents bacterial growth, particularly in multi-dose vaccines (e.g., thiomersal).
• Stabilizers: Extends the shelf-life of vaccines (e.g., proteins).

Vaccine Characteristics

• Immunogenic: Produces a strong and protective immune response without causing the disease.
• Safe: With low adverse event rates.
• Stable: Maintains effectiveness in storage conditions.
• Combination: Can contain multiple antigens for combined disease protection.

EPI Target Diseases

• Pertussis (Whooping Cough): A bacterial respiratory disease. Includes details on symptoms, incubation period, diagnosis, prevention, and management options.
• Tetanus: A neurological disease caused by Clostridium tetani. Details on symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment covered.
• Poliomyelitis: Viral disease with potential for paralysis. Includes information about symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Diphtheria: Bacterial disease affecting tonsils, pharynx, and larynx. Includes information about symptoms, diagnosis, and management.
• Measles: Highly contagious viral infection. Includes information about symptoms, management, and complications.
• Tuberculosis (TB): Includes details on the disease, transmission, predisposing factors, and clinical features.

Vaccination Management

• Chemotherapy: Details for treatment and phases of treatment.
• Vaccine Side Effects: Reporting of adverse reactions is included.