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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Evaluating the global use of vaccination

I can evaluate the benefits and risks of vaccinations, and explain the role herd immunity plays in reducing the spread of disease.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Evaluating the global use of vaccination

I can evaluate the benefits and risks of vaccinations, and explain the role herd immunity plays in reducing the spread of disease.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Vaccines have had a positive effect on public health (e.g. the eradication of smallpox).
  2. Vaccination is not risk free as it can have side effects, but the benefits outweigh the risks.
  3. New vaccines are trialled, and are only approved for use when the benefits of the vaccination outweigh the risks.
  4. It is necessary to vaccinate a high proportion of a population against a pathogen to provide herd immunity.
  5. Herd immunity helps protect those who can’t or won’t have the vaccination.

Common misconception

The MMR vaccination causes autism.

The study by Dr Wakefield is highly flawed, and has been discredited. Many subsequent studies have found no link between the MMR vaccination and autism. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can have devastating consequences.

Keywords

  • Vaccination - The process of administering a vaccine to an individual to create immunity to a pathogen.

  • Vaccine - A formulation that contains an inactive pathogen, or parts of it.

  • Immunity - Immunity is established after the body is first exposed to a pathogen's antigens, and enables white blood cells to respond quickly to the antigen when the body is re-exposed to it.

  • Risk - A possible negative outcome.

  • Herd immunity - When a high proportion of the population have been vaccinated against a disease, the spread is reduced and unvaccinated individuals may be protected.

Learning cycle 2 can be adapted to best suit your class, for example by omitting details of the nature of the COVID-19 vaccine being a copy of a viral gene that is used to make antigen to generate an immune response.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
White blood cells called lymphocytes make proteins called against pathogens.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: antibodies, antibody
Q2.
Lymphocytes make antibodies that are specific to one on a pathogen.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: antigen
Q3.
Which statement about vaccines and vaccination is correct?
Correct answer: A vaccine is the injected substance. Vaccination is the process of injecting it.
A vaccination is the injected substance. Vaccine is the process of injecting it.
Vaccine and vaccination mean exactly the same thing.
Q4.
When a person has been vaccinated against a pathogen, they are protected by cells that remain in their body.
Correct Answer: memory
Q5.
The protection provided by memory cells is called __________.
Correct answer: immunity
phagocytosis
resistance
vaccination
Q6.
After vaccination, if the pathogen from the vaccine enters the body again, memory cells quickly respond by making .
Correct Answer: antibodies

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each word to its correct meaning.
Correct Answer:vaccine,a formulation containing an inactive pathogen

a formulation containing an inactive pathogen

Correct Answer:vaccination,the process of injecting a formulation containing an inactive pathogen

the process of injecting a formulation containing an inactive pathogen

Correct Answer:immunity,long-lasting protection against a pathogen

long-lasting protection against a pathogen

Q2.
Which disease has been eradicated through the use of a global vaccination programme?
COVID-19
measles
Correct answer: smallpox
Q3.
Who is correct?
Correct answer: Jacob: Vaccines are tested before they’re used on the public.
Laura: There are no risks when having a vaccination.
Lucas: The benefits of vaccination have not been proven.
Q4.
A vaccine is only approved for widespread use when evidence shows that …
common side-effects are severe and long-lasting.
Correct answer: common side-effects are mild and short-lived.
Correct answer: the risk of severe side-effects is low.
the risks outweigh the benefits.
Q5.
When a very high percentage of the population has been vaccinated against a pathogen, this provides immunity.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: herd
Q6.
Which statements explain why herd immunity is important?
An image in a quiz
Herd immunity immediately eradicates a disease.
Correct answer: Herd immunity helps protect people who can’t have the vaccination.
Herd immunity can spread from person to person in a population.
Correct answer: Herd immunity prevents regular outbreaks of diseases such as measles.
Herd immunity stops a pathogen from mutating.