Immunization
Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natural disease-fighting system of the body. The healthy immune system is able to recognize invading bacteria and viruses and produce substances (antibodies) to destroy or disable them. Immunizations prepare the immune system to ward off a disease. To immunize against viral diseases, the virus used in the vaccine has been weakened or killed. To immunize against bacterial diseases, it is generally possible to use only a small portion of the dead bacteria to stimulate the formation of antibodies against the whole bacteria. In addition to the initial immunization process, it has been found that the effectiveness of immunizations can be improved by periodic repeat injections or “boosters.” Also see Immunizations (in the plural) and Immunization of a specific type (such Immunization, Polio).
Read Also:
- Immunization, anthrax
A series of six shots over six months and booster shots annually, the anthrax vaccine now in use in the USA was first developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in 1970. It is produced by the Michigan Biologic Products Institute of Michigan’s Department of Health and […]
- Immunization, chickenpox
See Chickenpox immunization.
- Immunization, children's
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), as separate vaccinations or in combination as DPT Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) Hepatitis B Measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles), as separate vaccinations or in combination as MMR Pneumococcal infections Poliovirus Tetanus (lockjaw) Varicella zoster virus (chickenpox)
- Immunization, DT
DT (diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine does not protect from pertussis and is usually reserved for individuals who have had a significant adverse reaction to a DPT shot or who have a personal or family history of a seizure disorder or brain disease.
- Immunization, DTaP
Like DPT, DTaP protects from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. DTaP is the same as DTP, except that it contains only acellular pertussis vaccine which is thought to cause fewer of the minor reactions associated with immunization and is also probably less likely to cause the more severe reactions occasionally seen following pertussis vaccination. […]