DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
RELATED TO IMMUNIZATION |
adjuvant: A substance that is used in a vaccine
to improve the immune response so that less vaccine is needed to
produce a non-specific stimulator of the immune response. |
adult immunizations: Vaccinations
that are given to people over 18 years of age (i.e. booster tetanus
shots, annual influenza shots, and pneumococcal or pneumonia vaccine). |
adverse event: Any undesirable side effect
that may result from a vaccination. |
agammaglobulinemia: A rare disease in which
the body is not able to produce immune antibodies due to a lack
of gamma globulin (a type of immunoglobulin) in the blood. |
anaphylaxis: An immediate and severe allergic
response; a shock reaction to a substance. This can result in sudden
severe breathing difficulty, severe drop in blood pressure, and/or
loss of consciousness. Anaphylactic shock can kill if not treated
promptly. Common causes of anaphylaxis include: bee stings in people
that are allergic to bees, ingestion of certain foods by people
that are allergic to those foods, and drug reactions. |
antimicrobial agents: A general
term for the drugs, chemicals, or other substances that kill microbes
(tiny organisms that cause disease). Among the antimicrobial agents
in use today are: antibacterial drugs (kill bacteria); antiviral
agents (kill viruses); antifungal agents (kill fungi); and antiparisitic
drugs (kill parasites). |
attenuated: To be weakened. An attenuated
vaccine is one that has been weakened by chemicals, or other processes
so that it will produce an adequate immune response without causing
the serious effects of an infection. |
bacteria: (Plural for bacterium). Tiny
microorganisms that reproduce by cell division and usually have
a cell wall. Bacteria can be shaped like a sphere, rod, or spiral
and can be found in virtually any environment. |
booster: Administration of an additional vaccination to help increase
or speed the immune response to a previous vaccination. |
childhood immunizations: A series of immunizations that are given to prevent diseases
that pose a threat to children. The immunizations in the United
States currently include: Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular
Pertussis, Haemophilus Influenzae type b, Inactivated Polio,
Pneumococcal Conjugate, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and
Hepatitis A. |
combination vaccine: A combination
of two or more vaccines (i.e. the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine).
Like the individual vaccines, combination vaccines are developed
through scientific research. They are also tested through clinical
trials for appropriateness, safety, and effectiveness before they
are licensed and released for use by the public. |
community immunity: A concept of
protecting a community against certain diseases by having a high
percentage of the community�s population immunized. (Sometimes referred
to as "herd" immunity). Even if a few members of the community
are unable to be immunized, the entire community will be indirectly
protected because the disease has little opportunity for an outbreak.
However, with a low percentage of population immunity, the disease
would have great opportunity for an outbreak.
Examples of the key role of community immunity include being vaccinated
with Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis, Haemophilus
Influenzae type b, Inactivated Polio, Pneumococcal Conjugate,
Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis A because these
are diseases that can spread through person-to-person transmission.
Tetanus, on the other hand, cannot be spread through person-to-person
transmission. It is transmitted through skin wounds. For example,
if a person steps on a nail or sustains some kind of penetrating
injury from something that has been contaminated with Tetanus spores,
there is significant risk for a life-threatening Tetanus infection.
The level of community immunity would have no impact on this risk. |
conjugate vaccines: A vaccine in which a
polysaccharide antigen is chemically joined with a protein molecule
to improve the immunogenicity of the polysaccharide. |
conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the
eyelid. Sometimes this condition occurs independently, but it can
also occur with other illnesses (i.e. measles). |
contraindication: Any condition (especially
of disease), which renders some particular line of treatment improper
or undesirable. |
disease: Sickness; illness; an interruption,
or disturbance of the bodily functions or organs, which causes or
threatens pain and weakness. |
encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain
and central nervous system. |
epidemic: An outbreak of disease that spreads
within a specific region and/or country. |
Hib disease: Disease caused by Haemophilus
Influenzae type b. Until recently, this disease was the most
common cause of deadly bacterial meningitis in children. It can
also cause infection of the bloodstream, pneumonia, epiglottis,
and otitis media, among other conditions. |
hypogammaglobulinemia: Abnormally low levels
of all classes of immunoglobulins. |
immune: A state of being protected against infectious
diseases by either specific or non-specific mechanisms (i.e., immunization,
previous natural infection, inoculation, or transfer of protective
antibodies). For certain diseases, immune mothers may temporarily
transfer protective antibodies to their newborns through the placenta.
Protection can result from this placental transfer for up to 4-6
months. |
immune system: The body�s very complex
system (made of many organs and cells), which defends the body against
infection, disease, and foreign substances. |
immunity: The condition of being immune or
protected against infection, disease, and foreign substances. |
immunization: A process or procedure that
increases an organism�s reaction to antigens, thereby, improving
its ability to resist or overcome infection. |
immunoglobulins: A specific protein
substance, produced by plasma cells to help fight infection. |
inoculation: Introduction of material
(i.e., vaccine, bacteria) into the body�s tissues.font> |
international importation
of disease:Transmission of a disease from one country
to another by way of an outside source (i.e., infected person or insect); or because a
pathogen (bacterium or virus) has changed in a way that has either enabled it to avoid
the immune system, or has made it stronger and more aggressive. |
live vaccine: A vaccine that contains
a living, yet weakened organism or virus. |
microorganism: Living organisms or living
things (plants or animals) so small in size that they are only visible
by the aid of a microscope. |
multi-drug resistance: The ability
to withstand many antimicrobial drugs. For example, a new strain
of pathogen may be resistant to many or all of the drugs that previously
worked against the disease caused by the pathogen. |
outbreak: Spread of disease, which occurs
in a short period of time and in a limited geographic location (i.e.,
neighborhood, community, school, or hospital). |
pandemic: An outbreak of disease that spreads
throughout the world. |
pathogen: Bacteria, viruses, parasites, or
fungi that have the capability to cause disease in humans.. |
quarantine: To isolate an individual who
has or is suspected of having a disease, in order to prevent spreading
the disease to others; alternatively, to isolate a person who does
not have a disease during a disease outbreak, in order to prevent
that person from catching the disease. Quarantine can be voluntary
or ordered by public health officials in times of emergency. |
SSPE, or subacute
sclerosing pan-encephalitis: Progressive, fatal destruction
of nerve cells in the brain, which results in progressive deterioration
of the personality, behavior, and intellectual abilities; seizures;
coma, and death. For example, when measles or rubella virus infects
brain cells, the immune system responds by attacking the virus.
SSPE is the result of the immune system�s activity. |
strain: A specific biologic version of a microorganism
(i.e. bacterium or virus). The identity of a strain is defined by
its genetic makeup, or code; changing just one piece of the code
produces a new strain. |
traveler's immunizations:A
vaccination or series of vaccinations designed for people who travel
to countries where certain diseases can be acquired. (www.cdc.gov/travel). |
vaccination:Injection of a weakened or
killed microorganism (bacterium or virus) given for the prevention
or treatment of infectious diseases. |
vaccine:A product of weakened or killed microorganism
(bacterium or virus) given for the prevention or treatment of infectious
diseases. |
vaccine schedule:A chart or plan of
vaccinations that are recommended for specific ages and/or circumstances. |
virus:A tiny parasite that grows and reproduces
in living cells. Vaccines prevent illnesses caused by the following
viruses: Hepatitis B, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella,
and Hepatitis A. |