Inactivated vaccines

Polysaccharide-based

• Characteristics
  • Bacterial cell wall polysaccharide
  • Conjugate polysaccharide vaccine is linked to a protein
• Available vaccines
  • Hib (conjugate vaccine)
    • conjugated to an immunogenic protein, such as diphtheria toxoid.
  • Pneumococcal vaccine
    • PCV13 (conjugate vaccine)
    • PPSV23 (unconjugated vaccine)
  • Meningococcal vaccine (conjugate vaccine; various strains of Neisseria meningitidis)
• Mechanism of action
  • Polysaccharides induce a relative T cell-independent B-cell response and therefore achieve sufficient immunization only in adults and older children.
  • In conjugate vaccines, the carrier protein activates T-cells, which stimulate a more rapid and long-lasting immune response, especially in infants and toddlers.