Vaccines & Immunization: History, Types, Safety & Immunity

Name: Vaccines & Immunization: History, Types, Safety & Immunity
Rating: 3.8 (30 reviews)

Learn the history, science, benefits, risks, and breakthroughs of vaccines

Created byMohamed AL ashram

Last updated 11/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

vaccine history
type of vaccine
vaccine schedule
vaccine production

Course content

13 sections • 30 lectures • 2h 46m total length

vaccination overview9:20
important abbreviations0:59
The Power of Vaccines Pathogens Prevented by Vaccination4:32
vaccine history and evolution11:38
Explore six centuries of vaccine history from variolation to mRNA covid vaccines, tracing milestones like Jenner and Pasteur, smallpox eradication, and ongoing global inequity in immunization.
what is vaccine ?how it works/6:50

A vaccine is a suspension of weakened, killed, or fragmented microorganisms or toxins or other biological preparation, such as those consisting of antibodies, lymphocytes, or mRNA, that is administered primarily to prevent disease.A vaccine is made by first generating the antigen that will induce a desired immune response. The antigen can take various forms, such as an inactivated virus or bacterium, an isolated subunit of the infectious agent, or a recombinant protein made from the agent. The antigen is then isolated and purified, and substances are added to it to enhance activity and ensure stable shelf life. The final vaccine is manufactured in large quantities and packaged for widespread distribution. Learn more about mRNA vaccine creation. A vaccine delivery system is the means by which the immune-stimulating agent constituting the vaccine is packaged and administered into the human body to ensure that the vaccine reaches the desired tissue. Examples of vaccine delivery systems include liposomes, emulsions, and microparticles.

Vaccines — The Invention That Transformed Humanity0:53
Discover how vaccines revolutionized global health, reduced child mortality, and prevented millions of deaths. This lecture sets the historical context of immunization’s importance
Variolation — The Earliest Form of Immunization0:44
Learn what variolation was, where it began, how it worked, and why it paved the way for modern vaccination strategie
Edward Jenner and the First Smallpox Vaccine1:40
Louis Pasteur and the Birth of Modern Vaccinology2:06
Jenner's smallpox vaccine earned endorsements from Napoleon and Jefferson in 1806, while Pasteur developed a lab fowl cholera vaccine and rabies post-exposure vaccination, spurring diphtheria antitoxin and influenza vaccine priorities.
The Rise of 20th-Century Vaccines — Polio, Yellow Fever, Influenza,2:17
Trace the development and impact of vaccines for yellow fever, influenza, and polio, from the 17D yellow fever vaccine to Salk and Sabin polio vaccines.
: A Timeline of Vaccine Development11:18

Different types of vaccines7:54
The Main Vaccine Types Explained1:13
Understand the major categories of vaccines — live attenuated, inactivated, toxoids, subunit, and conjugate vaccines — and how they differ in function and design.
: New and Advanced Vaccine Technologies2:26
Dive into modern vaccine platforms including mRNA, DNA, and recombinant vector vaccines, and explore how they are transforming immunization today.

Requirements

immunology basics

Description

Vaccines are among the greatest achievements in medical history, saving millions of lives and preventing countless diseases. This course, “Vaccines & Immunization: History, Types, Safety & Immunity”, provides a complete guide to vaccine science, exploring how immunization works, the types of vaccines, and their global impact on public health.

You will learn how vaccines stimulate the immune system, activating B cells to produce antibodies and create lasting immunity. The course covers active and passive immunity, herd immunity, and why high vaccination rates are crucial to prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio, and smallpox.

Explore the history of vaccines, from early variolation practices in Asia to Edward Jenner’s pioneering smallpox vaccine, Louis Pasteur’s breakthroughs in rabies and anthrax, and modern innovations like mRNA and recombinant vaccines. You’ll gain a clear understanding of different vaccine types, including live attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines, toxoids, and DNA vaccines, and how each works to protect the body.

The course also addresses vaccine safety and potential adverse reactions, debunking common myths and highlighting evidence-based facts. Learn how scientists develop vaccines, the challenges in creating effective immunizations, and how modern technologies accelerate vaccine production for new diseases.

Whether you are a healthcare student, professional, or simply curious, this course gives you the knowledge to understand how vaccines work, why they matter, and their role in protecting individuals and communities worldwide.

Who this course is for:

Medical students and all professionals concern with vaccination

Vaccines & Immunization: History, Types, Safety & Immunity

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

What Are Vaccines? An Overview5 lectures • 33min

history of vaccines6 lectures • 19min

Types of vaccines3 lectures • 12min

Immunology Essentials1 lecture • 6min

immunodeficiency state2 lectures • 4min

T cell role2 lectures • 6min

memory cells1 lecture • 10min

herd immunity1 lecture • 5min

prevention of disease1 lecture • 3min

factors affect vaccine protection2 lectures • 14min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: