Immunoprophylaxis medical comic
This comic covers how we prevent infection by training or borrowing immunity. It classifies vaccines — live attenuated, inactivated, toxoid, subunit, recombinant, edible and nucleic acid — compares their strengths and limits, covers combination vaccines, adjuvants, storage and contraindications, and then explains passive immunisation with antibodies and antitoxins after exposure.
For MBBS, NEET-PG, FMGE, NEXT and USMLE revision.
Immunoprophylaxis: what the comic covers
High-yield points
- Active immunoprophylaxis uses vaccines to make the body produce its own lasting immunity; passive immunoprophylaxis gives ready-made antibodies for immediate, short-lived protection.
- Live attenuated vaccines (e.g. MMR, BCG, oral polio, yellow fever) mimic infection and give strong, long-lasting immunity, usually after one dose, but are avoided in pregnancy and immunosuppression.
- Inactivated (killed) vaccines are safer and more stable but less immunogenic, so they need several doses and boosters.
- Toxoids are toxins inactivated with formalin — e.g. tetanus and diphtheria — and protect against the toxin, not the bacterium.
- Subunit and cellular-fraction vaccines use parts of the organism, such as capsular polysaccharides or hepatitis B surface antigen made by recombinant DNA technology.
- Newer approaches include DNA and mRNA vaccines and experimental edible vaccines; adjuvants and combination vaccines boost responses and cut injections.
- Vaccines need a reliable cold chain and have specific contraindications.
- Passive immunisation is used after exposure: tetanus and diphtheria antitoxin, botulinum antitoxin, hepatitis B immunoglobulin and rabies immunoglobulin.
Quick questions
What is the difference between live and killed vaccines?
Live attenuated vaccines contain weakened organisms that multiply, giving strong, long-lasting immunity, often after one dose, but they can be unsafe in pregnancy or immunosuppression. Killed vaccines cannot multiply, so they are safer but need several doses and boosters.
What is a toxoid vaccine?
A bacterial toxin made harmless, usually with formalin, that still induces protective antibodies. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are the classic examples.
When is passive immunisation used?
When immediate protection is needed, usually after exposure. Examples are rabies immunoglobulin after a bite, hepatitis B immunoglobulin after a needlestick or for babies of infected mothers, and tetanus immunoglobulin for tetanus-prone wounds.
Is this comic free to read?
The first pages are free to preview. Members read the full comic, and you can sign up free to read one comic in full.
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