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Quiz yourself on Vaccination and Herd ImmunityGet your flashcardsBuild my revision planTrack my progress🎓 Types of Vaccines — Extension Content
Beyond GCSEThe AQA GCSE specification only requires you to know that vaccines contain dead or inactive pathogens that trigger an immune response. The table below goes beyond the specification and is provided for enrichment only — you will not be asked to distinguish between these vaccine types in GCSE exams.
| Vaccine Type | Components | Advantages | Disadvantages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Attenuated | Weakened living pathogens | Strong, long-lasting immunity | Risk for immunocompromised individuals | MMR, BCG, oral polio |
| Inactivated (Killed) | Dead pathogens or components | Safe for immunocompromised | May need booster shots | Flu, hepatitis A, rabies |
| Subunit/Component | Specific pathogen proteins | Very safe, targeted | May require adjuvants | Hepatitis B, HPV |
| Toxoid | Inactivated bacterial toxins | Targets toxin-mediated diseases | Requires booster shots | Tetanus, diphtheria |
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