For this week's lesson, I was able to further understand how our immune system works and its very hard task in keeping us healthy.
However, I would like to discuss adaptive immunity and its social relevance in today's society. Adaptive immunity is the ability of the body to defend against specific invading agents such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and alike. Antigens or foreign materials trigger an immune response in which antibodies are sent out to attack the antibodies. This builds up a form of memory within the antibodies that promote a more rapid and vigorous response toward the next encounter with the same, specific antigen. Another way to build up one's adaptive immunity is through vaccination of antibodies.
During the past years, especially during the CoViD-19 pandemic, many refused to get vaccinated citing harmful side effects, and other such reasons. This topic brings up the importance of vaccination, especially against a virus that was said to be more contagious than the flu and caused more than 6 million deaths globally. Vaccines are effective and it takes lessons like these to convince anti-vaxxers to switch.