Viral Vaccines

Viral vaccines are used to prevent viral infections, usually these contains either attenuated or inactivated viruses. 

Others contain antigens, which are fragments of viruses. Some contain complete viruses that have been damaged or killed. In either situation, the vaccination provides a patient with knowledge about the virus so that their immune system can train to identify it and defend itself. Unlike viruses that occur naturally, viral vaccinations do not infect the body. They can be injected (into the muscle or subcutaneously) or taken orally.

Types of viral vaccines:

• Live-attenuated vaccines
• Inactivated vaccines
• Subunit/recombinant vaccines
• Viral vector vaccines
• Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines

Although vaccines help to protect patients from infection, they can also have a number of negative side effects. These are indications that the immune system is strengthening its defences. The most typical side effects are as follows:

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Headache
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue