Ask Dr. Universe: How do vaccines work?

dr-universe-logoPULLMAN, Wash. – The quick, little sting of a vaccine shot can provide us with some big protection from germs that cause disease.

One kind of germ is a virus. Viruses are so small that you can’t see them even with a normal microscope. But if you use a more powerful electron microscope, you’d see each one wears a kind of coat with bits and knobs that stick out in different directions.

“Just like every person’s face looks different, every virus coat looks different,” said my friend Felix Lankester, a veterinarian at Washington State University.

Read all of this answer from Dr. Universe at https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2016/12/05/vaccines-how-do-they-work/.

 

A service of Washington State University, Ask Dr. Universe answers some of the most interesting, tough and smart questions from curious kids all around the world.

 

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