Topic One (1.1): Vaccines 1

Topics Icon.png Objectives

By the end of this topic you should be able to:

  • describe the role of vaccines in fighting disease;  
  • describe how Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine.

You might also be able to:

  • describe how scientific methodology was used to develop the vaccine for smallpox.

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

In this topic you will learn how vaccinations can help people develop immunity to an infection they have never had.


Interact Icon.png Working through your course book

  • Before learning about how your body fights disease, you need to know what causes disease and how it attacks.

WATCH - What are Pathogens? (YouTube)

WATCH - What is a virus? - Viruses for children - Science for Kids (YouTube)

  • Some scientists disagree about whether viruses are alive or not.  Watch the video below to remind yourself of the seven life processes that all living organisms carry out. Which one do viruses not carry out independently?

WATCH - Seven Life Processes | Physiology | Biology | FuseSchool (YouTube)

  • Did you work out which one it was? Viruses can't reproduce without using their hosts processes so many scientists consider them as non-living.

VIEW - Controlling Infectious Disease (slides 1-20) Download VIEW - Controlling Infectious Disease (slides 1-20)

  • Copy and complete slide 15, and copy slide 17 into your book.
  • Now read pages 22–23 where you will learn how diseases can be prevented and how this discovery was made. Have you had an injection recently? This was probably to prevent you from getting an infectious disease such as measles. These injections are known as immunisations, vaccinations or inoculations. Links to an external site.

WATCH - History of vaccination: Smallpox vaccines (YouTube)

You can also read about what Edward Jenner did:

DOWNLOAD & KEEP - B3 2.1 Information sheet 1: The Discovery of Vaccines (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.

  • Do you think should have experimented on James Phipps who was the son of Jenner's gardener? 

Review Icon.png Review

COMPLETE - B3 2.1 Interactive screen: Edward Jenner (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.

Answer summary questions 1–4 on page 23.


Bridge Icon.png Support activities for this topic

If you didn't study the Year 7 course or you feel like you need some support have a look at the Knowledge organiser for Year 7 Module 1:

DOWNLOAD - Knowledge organiser - Cells (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.

If you didn't study the Year 8 course or you feel like you need some support have a look at the Knowledge organiser for Year 8 Module 10:

DOWNLOAD - Knowledge organiser - Health and Lifestyle (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.


Stretch Icon.png Extension activities for this topic

WATCH - Immune Defence: Part 2 (Twig) [Not available on Sample Course]

Learn more about Polio and how a vaccine was developed against it, but how a mistake was made in the manufacture of an early vaccine against Polio:

WATCH - Eradication of Polio (Twig) [Not available on Sample Course]

Want to read more about why scientists disagree about whether viruses are living or not:

READ - Are Viruses Alive? (Microbiology Society) Links to an external site.


 Download Icon-1.png Check your answers

CHECK - Student Book Answers - Biology 3 Chapter 2 Download CHECK - Student Book Answers - Biology 3 Chapter 2