Will vaccination damage a person's immune system?

Won't.

Some people have doubts about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. One common misconception is that "vaccination will destroy a person's own immune system." However, scientific research and clinical data show that vaccination will not only not destroy the immune system, but is an important means to enhance immunity. 1. The basic principle of vaccines Simulated infection: Vaccines simulate the real infection process by introducing attenuated or inactivated pathogens (such as viruses or bacteria) or their partial components (such as proteins or sugars). This process does not cause real disease, but can stimulate the immune system to produce an immune response. Immune memory: After vaccination, the immune system will "remember" these pathogens or their components. When real pathogens invade again, the immune system can quickly identify and eliminate them, thereby preventing the occurrence of disease. 2. Common types of vaccines Inactivated vaccines: These vaccines are made with killed pathogens, such as the inactivated polio vaccine. They do not cause disease, but can effectively stimulate immune responses. Live attenuated vaccines: These vaccines use live pathogens that have been attenuated, such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. They can produce a stronger immune response. Subunit vaccines: This vaccine contains only a specific part of the pathogen (such as protein or polysaccharide), such as the hepatitis B vaccine. Safety and stability are relatively good. Nucleic acid vaccines: These vaccines work by inoculating the host with encoded antigen proteins, and then the cells in the body use genetic material to synthesize antigen proteins, stimulating the immune system to produce an immune response. Compared with traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines have the advantages of short production cycle and easy mass production. For example, the COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer in the United States and Moderna in Germany. Viral vector vaccines: Using specific viruses as vectors, the antigen genes of pathogens are implanted into the viral genome to obtain recombinant viruses and stimulate immune responses. For example, the AstraZeneca adenovirus COVID-19 vaccine. 3. The impact of vaccines on the immune system Enhanced immunity: Vaccines enhance the immune system's responsiveness by helping the body establish immune memory against specific pathogens. This enhancement does not weaken the immune system's resistance to other pathogens. Safety: Most vaccines undergo rigorous clinical trials and safety assessments to ensure that they are safe and effective before widespread use. Common adverse reactions are usually mild and temporary, such as redness, swelling, heat and pain at the injection site or mild fever throughout the body. Herd immunity: Widespread vaccination helps to establish herd immunity and prevent the spread of the disease. This protects not only the vaccine recipients, but also those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. 4. Misunderstandings about "destroying the immune system" and misleading information: Some misunderstandings may stem from a lack of understanding of the mechanism of action of vaccines or the influence of inaccurate information on social media. Misunderstandings in individual cases: In rare cases, vaccines may trigger abnormal reactions in the immune system, but these situations are extremely rare and are usually related to the individual's special health conditions. Scientific consensus: Public health agencies and scientists around the world agree that vaccines are safe and effective public health tools whose benefits far outweigh potential risks. Conclusion Vaccines do not destroy a person's own immune system, but instead increase resistance to specific diseases by enhancing immune memory. Scientific research and clinical practice have confirmed that vaccines are a key measure to prevent infectious diseases and protect public health. Understanding the scientific principles of vaccines and trusting scientific and medical professional opinions will help us better protect our own and others' health.

Author: Shi Jianyi, Bachelor of Wuhan University, popular science creator

Reviewer: Zhu Ling, deputy chief physician, Chongqing Nan'an District Center for Disease Control and Prevention