Vaccines Boost Immune System

Over the last decade several evidences has mounted that the measles vaccine protects us in not one but in two ways: Not only does it prevents the well-known acute illness with fever and spots that is sending children to the hospital, but also it appears to protect from other infections over the long term.

How does this work?
Some researchers have informed that the vaccine provides a general boost to our immune system.
Others have hypothesized that the vaccine's extended protective effects stem from prevention of measles infection itself. According to the theory, the virus can impair our body's immune memory, causing the so-called immune amnesia. Also, it is known that by protecting ourselves against measles infection, the vaccine helps the body in prevention from losing or "forgetting" its immune memory and also preserves its resistance to other infections.
Past research has hinted at the effects of immune amnesia, showing that immune suppression is following measles infection and that it could last as long as two to three years.
However, many scientists still are debating which hypothesis is correct and which is not. Among the critical questions are: If immune amnesia is true and real, how exactly does it happen and how much severe is it?
Now, a study that came on behalf of an international team of researchers led by investigators at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provides the much-needed answers.

By: Prerana Sharma
Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191031204630.htm