The key difference between vaccine and injection is that a vaccine is a biological preparation against a specific infectious disease, whereas injection is an act of giving a liquid to a person’s body using a needle and a syringe.
Vaccines help both in fighting a disease that is already in the body and preventing the effects of a future infection by a natural or wild pathogen. However, some people can be allergic to the ingredients in a vaccine, while some develop side effects due to the location of the injection and the sensitivity.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Vaccine
3. What is an Injection
4. Vaccine vs Injection in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Vaccine vs Injection
What is a Vaccine?
A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a specific infectious disease. It helps the immune system to develop protection from disease by artificially activating the immune system since it contains a virus or microorganism in a weakened, live or killed state, or toxins or proteins from the organism. This activation happens through priming the immune system with an immunogen. There are mainly two types of vaccines:
1) Prophylactic vaccine, which helps to prevent the effects of a future infection by a natural or wild pathogen
2) Therapeutic vaccine, which helps to fight a disease that is already in the body.
The word vaccine was derived from Variolae vaccinae (smallpox of the cow); the name was created to denote cowpox by Edward Jenner, who developed both the concept of vaccines and created the first vaccine.
Vaccination is the most effective method to prevent infectious diseases. Its effectiveness has been researched a lot. When a large percentage of a population in a country has been vaccinated, it is called herd immunity. It protects people who may be immunocompromised and cannot get a vaccine because even a weakened version would harm them.
The widespread immunity due to vaccination the world has eradicated smallpox and reduced polio and tetanus from much of the world to a great extent. Other vaccines have also proven effective against various diseases such as influenza, HPV and chickenpox. With this, there are licensed vaccines for 25 different types of infections that are preventable. Generally, the vaccines given to children, adolescents, or adults are safe. There are hardly any adverse effects; if there are, they are usually mild. The rate of side effects depends on the particular vaccine; fever, pain around the injection site, and muscle aches can be considered as the common side effects. In addition, some people may be allergic to ingredients in the vaccine.
What is an Injection?
An injection is an act of giving a liquid, especially a drug, into a person’s body using a needle and a syringe. It is considered a method of parenteral drug administration. It does not get absorbed into the digestive tract. Because of this, the medicine quickly gets absorbed into the body. There are various types of injections. They get classified according to,
- Type of tissue being injected into
- Location in the body the injection is designed to produce effects
- Duration of the effects
Injections are the most common health care procedure. About 95% of injections are used in curative care or as a treatment for a condition, 3% provide immunizations or vaccinations, and the rest are used for other purposes like blood transfusions. The side effects vary based on the location of the injection, the substance injected, needle gauge, procedure, and sensitivity. Some serious side effects such as gangrene, sepsis, and nerve damage may occur in rare cases.
Fear of needles, which is also called needle phobia, is common among people and may result in anxiety and fainting before, during, or after an injection. To prevent the pain that occurs with injections, the injection site may be numbed or cooled before the injection, and the person receiving the injection may be distracted by a conversation or similar means. However, unsafe injection methods may cause the transmission of bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Safety syringes that contain features to prevent accidental needlestick injury can prevent this. Moreover, reuse of the syringes should also be prevented. It is important to dispose of used needles properly to minimize health risks, as well.
What is the Difference Between Vaccine and Injection?
The key difference between vaccine and injection is that vaccine is a biological preparation against a specific disease while an injection is an act of giving a liquid to a person’s body.
The following table summarizes the difference between vaccine and injection.
Summary – Vaccine vs Injection
In summing up the difference between vaccine and injection, a vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a specific infectious disease. It contains a virus or microorganism in a weakened, live or killed state, or toxins or proteins from the organism. There are mainly two types of vaccines as prophylactic and therapeutic. Meanwhile, an injection is an act of transferring a liquid, especially a drug, into a person’s body using a needle and a syringe. Safe methods should be followed during and after the injection to minimize the health issues that may otherwise arise.
Reference:
1. “Vaccine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Aug. 2021.
2. “Injection (Medicine).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Aug. 2021.