PYQ Question

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? 1. These vaccines are eﬀective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis

August 6, 2026 en

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? 1. These vaccines are eﬀective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis. 2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not eﬀective against drug resistant bacteria can be reduced. 3. These vaccines have no side eﬀects and cause no allergic reactions. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation

A conjugate vaccine is a type of vaccine which combines a weak antigen with a strong antigen as a carrier so that the immune system has a stronger response to the weak antigen. A Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) is a pneumococcal vaccine which gives prevention against pneumococcal diseases, that are infections caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Pneumococcal infections can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. A pneumococcal vaccine is also commonly called pneumonia vaccine and can prevent septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning, also called sepsis) and meningitis. Hence statement 1 is correct. While vaccines are not intended to replace antibiotics, they can contribute to reduce AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance or drug resistance) by preventing (resistant) bacterial diseases and their transmission, and by reducing antibiotic use and misuse. PCVs for pneumococcos can potentially reduce the dependence on antibiotics by nearly 50 fifty percent per year. Hence statement 2 is correct. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines can have side eﬀects ranging from fever, loss of appetite to headache, fussiness. Hence statement 3 is not correct.