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A weakened or inactive version of a [[pathogen]] that stimulates the body's production of [[antibodies]] which can destroy the pathogen.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With General Science''. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 2000</ref>. Historical examples of successful vaccination programs include those for smallpox and polio. Recently, vaccines have been used to deal with sexually transmitted diseases such as the [[HPV]] virus. Some Christian groups have objected to the use of such vaccines on the belief that it will encourage promiscuity in children. Others say that trying to prevent a disease that God sends is interfering with the divine order. That is why some people who receive vaccines die.  

A '''vaccine''' is an injection of an [[antigen]] designed to create an immunity to a particular disease. The primary mechanism that a body uses to identify infections is a protein molecule called an [[antibody]]. If the body has a particular antibody for a particular disease it can identify the infection early on and the [[immune system]] can destroy it. Vaccine's work by exposing the body to a form of the disease in such a way that it will not cause illness but allow antibodies to develop. This confers a level of immunity to the organism vaccinated.<ref>http://www.howstuffworks.com/immune-system7.htm How stuff works: Antibodies</ref>

 

There are four major types of vaccines and they are differentiated by what antigen is used. Live attenuated vaccines are created from the actual disease in question, however before injection the [[pathogen]] is [[attenuated]] (weakened) by growing successive generations of lines in poor nutrient conditions. It is possible for these vaccines to still cause an infection. Inactivated vaccines are created from pathogens that have been killed, usually with the use of a preservative [[formaldehyde]]. Toxoid vaccines are created by using toxins produced by the pathogen, before injection these toxins are exposed to heat and chemicals that eliminate their effect, [[antibodies]] will still be produced to these deactivated toxins. Finally, component vaccines use pieces of the pathogen in the injection. These pieces often of identifying protein segments that allow antibodies to be produced.<ref>http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4866,00.html The Main Types of Vaccine </ref>

 

Only live attenuated vaccines can still cause infection.The other three types of vaccines can cause illness, but this is an allergic response not due to the disease itself. Very rarely a serious disease known as [[eczema vaccinatum]] can emerge. Vaccines that use pieces of pathogens often use a [[carrier virus]] in the injection. Those with very weak immune systems that are exposed to such a vaccine can become infected with the carrier virus and develop [[eczema]]. A recent case of this was reported in the United States after a father of a military man was vaccinated with small pox and his two year old son became ill. <ref> http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/183349/soldier_infects_toddler_son_with_lifethreatening.html AP article on eczema vaccinatum </ref>

Since the adoption of vaccination, however, many diseases have been curbed. [[Polio]], for example, killed over 3,000 people in the United States in 1952 [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1952_2.pdf], and inflicted such noted persons as President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], actor [[Alan Alda]], and musician [[Itzak Perlman]]. When doctors began using a vaccine to fight polio, it practically erradicated the disease in the developed world.  

Since the adoption of vaccination, however, many diseases have been curbed. [[Polio]], for example, killed over 3,000 people in the United States in 1952 [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1952_2.pdf], and inflicted such noted persons as President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], actor [[Alan Alda]], and musician [[Itzak Perlman]]. When doctors began using a vaccine to fight polio, it practically erradicated the disease in the developed world.