Overview of Types of Vaccines and Vaccination Methods

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity against a specific pathogen. Dr. Edward Jenner, a British physician, developed the first vaccine to battle smallpox by utilising the cowpox virus. There are several types of vaccinations, each of which is designed to help boost the immune system and prevent major illnesses, allowing people of all ages to enjoy longer, healthier lives. Currently, vaccinations prevent about 3.5 million to 5 million deaths from infectious diseases annually. Vaccines provide several benefits, including decreasing the transmission of disease and avoiding disease complications. The objective of the review is to summarise the types of vaccines and vaccination methods. Types of vaccines include live attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines, naked deoxyribonucleic acid vaccines, nanoparticle vaccines, peptide epitope-based vaccines, messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines, outer membrane vesicle vaccines, viral vectored vaccines, and dendritic cell-based vaccines. Commonly, vaccines are administered through intramuscular, oral, and intranasal routes.