Vaccines Vaccines are given to prevent, or minimize the severity of, disease Vaccination elicits an immune response which has “memory”
Types of Vaccines Attenuated whole-agent vaccines Contain living but weakened microbes Inactivated whole-agent vaccines Contain killed microbes Toxoids Inactivated toxins
Types of Vaccines Subunit vaccines Contain only antigenic components of the microbe Safer than whole-agent vaccines Conjugated vaccine Contains a poorly antigenic microbe antigen that is attached to a more antigenic substance
Vaccine schedule CDC – Recommended Immunization Schedules