By: Natalia Muñoz Durango
Director of Regulatory Affairs
VaxThera

April 27, 2023. A few days ago, we launched the podcast VaxThera: Science of Life (Ciencia de Vida), through which we aim to make science accessible to all of you. I had the honor of being a guest on the first episode to discuss the immune system.

In this article, I would like to offer a brief preview of a topic I am truly passionate about. I invite you to check it out, listen to the episode, and follow us to stay updated on new releases.

We live in a tropical environment where humans, animals, and the natural world coexist—a situation that significantly impacts both human and animal health. In this context, the immune system—the body’s defense mechanism, responsible for maintaining health—deploys various strategies to manage the potential threats that arise from this coexistence.

Our first line of defense consists of physical barriers, such as the skin, tears, and mucous secretions. If one of these barriers is compromised—for instance, by a laceration—it not only creates damage that requires repair, but also opens a direct entry point for microorganisms to enter the body, triggering an immune response.

When these microorganisms enter the body, the innate immune response is activated. This involves a range of cells and molecules that react quickly and non-specifically—meaning they respond in a similar fashion to many different types of microorganisms. If the infection is not contained in time, a third stage is triggered: the adaptive immune response. In this phase, highly specialized cells target the threat in a precise, specific, and carefully calibrated manner.

By mounting this type of response, the body develops a fundamental and distinctive capability: it generates “immunological memory.” In other words, the body becomes “trained,” ensuring that any future encounter with the same microorganism triggers a faster, stronger, and more specific response—based on what was learned during the initial exposure.

I am sharing this image, which illustrates this information in a more visual way:

¿Por qué les estoy contando todo esto? Vimos que el sistema inmune tiene la capacidad de ser entrenado para responder ante posibles amenazas, una de las formas de lograr ese “entrenamiento” es a través de las vacunas, pues estas están fabricadas con componentes reconocidos por el sistema inmune generando así una respuesta inmune de memoria.

Es por ello que algunas vacunas pueden generar síntomas ya que se activa nuestro sistema inmune para que aprenda a defenderse cuando se dé la exposición al microorganismo y pueda responder de manera rápida y eficiente.

En VaxThera, le apostamos a cuidar la vida a través de la vacunación y promovemos un sistema de salud justo y equitativo. Día a día nos esforzamos por alcanzar la independencia sanitaria en materia de vacunas y biológicos en el país, de modo que los colombianos tengamos un acceso eficaz a la inmunización y estemos preparados frente a próximas amenazas.

Contactos de prensa:

Eliana Siegert
[email protected]