This was always a hot topic in medical schools but since the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for an effective coronavirus vaccine, it has become more acute. It covers several areas including consent and consent from minors, ethics, NHS policy and many other domains.

It is unlikely medical schools will ask you about the immunisation schedules in the UK. They are more likely to give you a scenario-based question based around the domains that I have mentioned or perhaps a role play where you need to discuss vaccination with a patient. However, there is some knowledge that you need to know.

There is a large focus in the NHS on trying to prevent disease from happening. Vaccination is one of the ways that can stop disease spreading to an individual or reducing the duration and severity of the illness should the person get the disease.

Vaccines have a microorganism or virus in either a killed (deactivated), weakened, live state or can contain proteins or toxins from the organism. They stimulate the body’s immune response so that the person develops immunity but not to cause the effects of the disease itself. Once sufficient numbers of people in a population have the vaccine, herd immunity results. The chances of a non-immunised person coming into contact with the pathogen is much less once herd immunity has been achieved.

Here are a number of reasons why vaccinations are good for a population: -

• Vaccines can save lives by preventing disease why can otherwise be fatal (for example Rabies).

• Vaccines go through a thorough test programme and have to provide evidence before they can be approved for use in humans.

• Patients can have allergic reactions to vaccines (or perhaps a component of the vaccine) but these are rare

• Once enough patients have been vaccinated, the population can benefit from herd immunity greatly reducing the risk of spread of the disease

• Vaccines can prevent infections to the unborn child or reduce the risk of the unborn child developing serious birth defects. An example of this is Rubella vaccination. There is no specific treatment for Rubella infection.

• Successful widespread vaccination can eradicate a disease, for example smallpox and other diseases such as polio and tetanus are eliminated from much of the world.

• The cost of vaccines is usually much less than the cost of treating a patient who has the disease, as well as the cost in lost productivity.

Despite strong scientific evidence indicating vaccines are safe, there are still groups of people who will refuse vaccination. This can be known as antivaccination, anti-vax or vaccine hesitancy.

It is good to know some of the reasons why patients (and parents) refuse vaccines :-

• Vaccines can cause serious sides effects and even death.

• Vaccines contain ingredients that are harmful.

• Natural infection is a better way of obtaining immunity.

• Vaccines can cause Autism.

All the above have been proven to be untrue and you need to know details of why so that you can respond to medical school interview questions relating to this. Detailed discussion of this occurs on our Medical School Interview Course.

• Religious objections. For example the use of pork derived vaccines.

We teach the topic of vaccines on our Medical School Interview Course. The topic is discussed in more depth with a more detailed discussion of vaccine hesitancy and you can practice MMI stations remaining to vaccination. We also provide you with details of COVID-19 and a fully updated question bank.

See photos from our previous interview courses (pre covid pandemic). Please have a go at some practice questions from our question bank below.

Medical School Interview Questions - Vaccines

• What is you understanding of the term ‘herd immunity’, how does it work and is it effective at preventing a disease?

• Scenario: A mother refused to vaccinate her child with the MMR vaccine citing the risk of autism. Speak to her about this.

• Your local nursery is refusing places to children who are not up to date with their vaccines. Do you agree with this policy?