The immunological basis of vaccination
(2026) Belgian Journal of Hematology — Vol. 17, n° 1, p. 4-12 (2026)
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- Abstract
- Vaccination exploits the principles of immunology to provide protective immunity against infectious diseases. The immune system relies on two complementary systems: innate immunity, which offers immediate but non-specific defence, and adaptive immunity, which generates antigen-specific effector mechanisms and long-term memory. Adaptive immunity is mediated by B and T lymphocytes in which B cells produce antibodies and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells orchestrate helper functions and cytotoxic responses. Vaccination mimics natural infection by stimulating these processes, leading to durable immune memory and, at the population level, herd immunity. Over the years, different vaccine platforms have been developed, including live-attenuated and inactivated pathogens, toxoids, subunit and conjugate vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, and more recently, mRNA-based vaccines. Each approach presents unique immunological benefits and limitations in terms of efficacy, safety, and suitability for immunocompromised individuals. Despite their overall safety, vaccines may cause mild adverse effects, the live vaccines posing specific conditions for safety. In addition, pharmacovigilance is warranted for rare complications, such as autoimmune events or vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Immunisation strategies must also address challenges such as antigenic variation, vaccine hesitancy, and reduced efficacy in immunocompromised patients. Overall, vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions, combining individual protection with collective immunity to control or even eradicate infectious diseases.
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Citations
Graux, C., & Kerre, T. (2026). The immunological basis of vaccination. Belgian Journal of Hematology, 17(1), 4-12. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/273228 (Original work published 2026)