(văk′sēn)
[Pronunciation]
(văk-sēn′)
[L. vaccinus, pert. to cows]

1. An infectious liquid that Edward Jenner (Brit. physician, 1749–1823) derived from cowpox lesions, and used to prevent and attenuate smallpox in humans.
2. Any suspension containing antigenic molecules derived from a microorganism, given to stimulate an immune response to an infectious disease.
Vaccines may be made from weakened or killed microorganisms; inactivated toxins; toxoids derived from microorganisms; or immunologically active surface markers extracted or copied from microorganisms. They can be given intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally, orally, or intranasally; as single agents; or in combinations.
See: Recommended Immunization Schedules Appendix
The ideal vaccine should be effective, well-tolerated, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to administer, and easy to store. In practice, vaccine side effects such as fevers, muscle aches, and injection site pain are common but generally mild. Adverse reactions to vaccines that should be reported include anaphylaxis, shock, seizures, active infection, and death.
See: immunization

Because vaccines may cause side effects, all persons who receive them should carefully review federally mandated Vaccine Information Sheets before they are immunized.

Subentries:
adsorbed anthrax vaccine
antitumor vaccine
autogenous vaccine
bacterial vaccine
BCG vaccine
cholera vaccine
diphtheria vaccine
DNA vaccine
DPT vaccine
DTaP vaccine
edible vaccine
vaccine extraimmunization
Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
hepatitis B vaccine
heterogeneous vaccine
heterologous vaccine
homologous vaccine
HPV vaccine
human diploid cell rabies vaccine
inactivated poliovirus vaccine
influenza virus vaccine
killed vaccine
live attenuated influenza vaccine
live attenuated measles (rubeola) virus vaccine
live measles and mumps virus vaccine
live measles and rubella virus vaccine
live measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine
live measles virus vaccine
live oral poliovirus vaccine
live rubella virus vaccine
Lyme disease vaccine
meningococcal vaccine
mumps vaccine
peptide vaccine
pertussis vaccine
plague vaccine
polyvalent vaccine
polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine
pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine
rabies vaccine
reassortant vaccine
Sabin vaccine
Salk vaccine
sensitized vaccine
smallpox vaccine
tetanus vaccine
tumor vaccine
typhoid vaccine
typhus vaccine
varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
yellow fever vaccine