VACCINATION

1. Use the words in the box to complete the definition of vaccine.

Immune system immunity agent microbe disease

A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves 1._________ to a particular 2___________. A vaccine typically
contains an 3.__________that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or
killed forms of the 4.__________, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's
5.___________ to recognize the agent as foreign, destroy it, and "remember" it, so that the immune system can more
easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.

2. Top 8 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Match the diseases below with the corresponding
description.
measles the flu polio pneumococcal disease tetanus meningococcal disease mumps hepatitis B

A. What it is: A viral infection of the nose, lungs, and
throat.
How you get it: When someone infected coughs,
sneezes, or talks, droplets can spread up to 6 feet away.
People get the virus from the air or by touching
something the sick person touched and then touching
their own nose or mouth.
Why it’s serious: Up to 49,000 Americans die from the it
each year. This disease can worsen asthma and
diabetes.
B. What it is: A bacterial disease that can cause many
types of illness, including pneumonia, ear and blood
infections, and meningitis (which affects the brain and
spinal cord).
How you get it: By coming into contact with an infected
person’s mucus or saliva.
Why it’s serious: Complications can be serious and
fatal. As pneumonia, it's especially deadly in people older
than 65. If it causes meningitis or infects the blood, these
can be life-threatening.

C. What it is: A bacterial disease that causes lockjaw,
breathing problems, muscle spasms, paralysis, and
death.
How you get it: The bacteria that causes it is found in
soil, dust, and manure. It can get in your body through a
cut or open sore.
Why it’s serious: 10% to 20% of cases are fatal. Deaths
are more common in people who are older than 60 or
who have diabetes.
E. What it is: A bacterial disease that can cause
meningitis, an infection and swelling of the brain and
spinal cord. It can also infect the blood.
How you get it: It's caused by bacteria that live in the
back of an infected person' nose and throat. It can
spread through kissing or just living with someone who is
infected. Symptoms are usually fever that starts
suddenly, headache, and stiff neck. Getting diagnosed
and treated ASAP is key.
Why it’s serious: Between 1,000-1,200 people in the
U.S. it each year. Even with antibiotics, as many as 15%
die.
G. What it is: A liver disease caused by a virus.
How you get it: People have the virus in their blood and
other bodily fluids. Adults usually spread it through sex or
sharing needles. A pregnant woman can pass it to her
baby. It is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
Why it’s serious: It can lead to liver cancer and other
long-lasting liver diseases, which can be deadly.
D. What it is: A highly contagious lung infection.
How you get it: The virus gets into the air when
someone who has it coughs or sneezes. It can also last
for up to 2 hours on something they touched. Most
people who aren't immune -- 90% -- will get it if they are
near an infected person.
Why it’s serious: This disease can cause pneumonia,
brain swelling, and death.
F. What it is: A viral disease
How you get it: The virus lives in the intestines. You can
get infected by coming into contact with a sick person’s
feces.
Why it’s serious: Most people get no symptoms or flu-
like symptoms that last a few days, but it can cause brain
infection, paralysis, and death. It was one of the most
feared and devastating diseases of the 20th century.
H. What it is: A disease caused by a virus that gives
people swollen salivary glands, a fever, headache, and
muscle aches. It also makes you feel tired and curbs
your appetite.
How you get it: When someone coughs or sneezes, the
virus gets into the air, and other people can breathe it in.
Why it’s serious: It can cause long-lasting health
problems, including meningitis and deafness.
3. You are going to watch a video in which Brittney Kara, mother of 3, gives reasons to avoid
vaccination. Can you predict any of her arguments? Watch the video twice and answer the
questions below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4UDIRlNcV8 (Minute 3.00-11:50)

1) Why did she stop vaccinating?

2) Why did her husband want to vaccinate their first child?

3) What did they decide to do with their oldest child?

4) What does she mean by "parents know better than the doctor"?

5) How did she feel when she took her second daughter to the 4-month well-baby check up?

6) In her view, what were the effects of the Hib vaccine on her second daughter?

7) Why didn't her third child get the Vitamin K shot at birth?

8) What reasons does she give to counter vaccination?

9) What does she believe the true causes of polio are?

10) How should diseases be prevented?

3. Watch an extract of the Jimmy Kimmel Show and see how he counters anti-vaxxers like Brittney
Kara. What does Kimmel say about...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpfNScEd3M

 Glutten
 Friends' Facebook page
 People who know more than doctors
 Smoking
KEY

1)

1. immunity, 2. disease, 3. agent, 4. microbe, 5. immune system

2)
measles D
the flu A
polio F
pneumococcal disease B
tetanus C
meningococcal disease E
mumps H
hepatitis B G

1) Why did she stop vaccinating?

She did some in-depth research at the vaccine industry and was concerned about the ingredients. She has
always been a natural organic health advocate

2) Why did her husband want to vaccinate their first child?

He was pro-vaccine because he was exposed to very sick people at work and he had been trained in the
medical field

3) What did they decide to do with their oldest child?

A delayed schedule, not do any vaccines until the first year of life, just the DTap (v diphtheria, tetanus,
and whooping cough) when the baby was a few months old

4) What does she mean by "parents know better than the doctor"?

Vaccinating her baby was not a good idea because it provoked an undesired change in her immune
system. Her baby got her first and only ear infection.

5) How did she feel when she took her second daughter to the 4-month well-baby check up?

She was not in a strong mindset at the time and she felt bullied both by the pediatrician and the nurse, who
accused her of being a bad mum and gave her a form to sign saying that she was putting her daugher's life
at risk by not choosing to vaccinate.

6) In her view, what were the effects of the Hib vaccine on her second daughter?

She developed a sleep disorder; she didn't sleep for the first 14 months of her life.

7) Why didn't her third child get the Vitamin K shot at birth?

It contains alluminium, polysorbate 80 and it's completely unnecessary

8) What reasons does she give to counter vaccination?

 A health immune system does not come from vaccines

 Vaccines harm and damage, maim and kill more people than they've ever cured
 Vaccines alter DNA and disrupt our immune system
 Immunity comes from natural immunity
 Our bodies are intuitive, divine

9) What does she believe the true causes of polio are?

Polio in the US was caused from Government production and spraying DDT and arsenic on our food.
Cases of polio are vaccine-induced.

10) How should diseases be prevented?

By boosting natural immunity. The body knows how to heal itself.

3. Watch an extract of the Jimmy Kimmel Show and see how he counters anti-vaxxers like Brittney
Kara. What does Kimmel say about...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpfNScEd3M

 Glutten Anti-vaxxers are more scared of glutten than of smallpox

 Friends' Facebook page Where anti vaxxers get medical advice from and info about our body
 People who know more than doctors You are not allowed to go to the doctor, if you fall and have
your head open, you will not be admitted in the emergency room
 Smoking you should let your kids smoke (not following medical advice)