Term |
Definition |
ACELLULAR VACCINE |
Vaccine containing partial cellular material as opposed to
complete cells.
|
ACTIVE IMMUNITY |
The production of antibodies against a specific disease by
the immune system. Active immunity can be acquired in two
ways, either by contracting the disease or through
vaccination. Active immunity is usually permanent, meaning
an individual is protected from the disease for the
duration of their lives.
|
ACUTE |
A short-term, intense health effect.
|
ADJUVANT |
A substance (e.g. aluminum salt) that is added during
production to increase the body's immune response to a
vaccine.
|
ADVERSE EVENTS |
Undesirable experiences occurring after immunization that
may or may not be related to the vaccine.
|
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES (ACIP |
A panel of 10 experts who make recommendations on the use
of vaccines in the United States. The panel is advised on
current issues by representatives from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug
Administration, National Institutes of Health, American
Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family
Physicians, American Medical Association and others. The
recommendations of the ACIP guide immunization practice at
the federal, state and local level.
|
ALLERGY |
A condition in which the body has an exaggerated immune
response to a substance, e.g. food or drug. Also known as
hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction.
|
ANAPHYLAXIS |
An immediate and severe allergic reaction to a substance,
e.g. food or drug. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include
breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, and a drop
in blood pressure. This condition can be fatal and requires
immediate medical attention.
|
ANTHRAX |
An acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming
bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs
in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans.
|
ANTIBODY |
A protein found in the blood that is produced in response
to foreign substances, e.g. bacteria or viruses, invading
the body. Antibodies protect the body from disease by
binding to these organisms and destroying them.
|
ANTIGEN |
Foreign substance e.g. bacteria or virus, in the body that
is capable of causing disease. The presence of antigens in
the body triggers an immune response, usually the
production of antibodies and cytotoxic T cells.
|
ASSOCIATION |
The degree to which the occurrence of two variables or
events are linked. Association describes a situation where
the likelihood of one event occurring depends on the
presence of another event or variable. However, an
association between two variables does not necessarily
imply a cause and effect relationship. The term association
and relationship are often used interchangeably. See causal
association.
|
BRACHIAL NEURITIS |
Inflammation of nerves in the arm causing muscle weakness
and pain.
|
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION |
Development of a disease despite a person's having
responded to a vaccine.
|
CAUSAL ASSOCIATION |
The presence or absence of a variable, e.g. smoking, is
responsible for an increase or decrease in another
variable, e.g. cancer. A change in exposure leads to a
change in the outcome of interest.
|
CHRONIC |
A disease or health condition that lasts for a long period
of time, e.g. chronic hepatitis B.
|
CHRONIC CARRIER |
Person who remains infected with a disease agent and
therefore may be able to pass the disease agent to persons
they come into contact with. Chronic carriers may or may
not exhibit disease symptoms.
|
COMBINATION VACCINE |
Two or more vaccines administered in a single injection in
order to reduce the number of shots given, e.g. MMR
(measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
|
CONJUGATE VACCINE |
The joining together of two compounds (usually a protein
and a polysaccharide) to increase a vaccine's effectiveness.
|
DIPHTHERIA |
Can cause a thick covering in the back of the throat which
may cause difficulty breathing. It may also lead to
suffocation, paralysis, and heart failure.
(pink book chapter on diphtheria) (view
photo)
|
EFFICACY |
A measure used to describe how good a vaccine is at
preventing the targeted disease.
|
EPIDEMIC |
The occurrence of disease within a specific geographical
area or population that is in excess of what is normally
expected.
|
EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES |
Studies of how disease is distributed in populations and of
the factors that influence or determine this distribution.
|
GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME (GBS): |
A rare neurological disease characterized by loss of
reflexes and temporary paralysis. Symptoms include
weakness, numbness, tingling and increased sensitivity
that spreads over the body. Muscle paralysis starts in the
feet and legs and moves upwards to the arms and hands.
Sometimes paralysis can result in the respiratory muscles
causing breathing difficulties. Symptoms usually appear
over the course of one day and may continue to progress
for 3 or 4 days up to 3 or 4 weeks. Recovery begins within
2-4 weeks after the progression stops. While most patients
recover, approximately 15%-20% experience persistent
symptoms. GBS is fatal in 5% of cases.
|
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B |
Abbreviated as Hib. Is a cause of meningitis that can
result in hearing loss, seizures, or mental retardation.
(pink book chapter on Hib) (view
photo)
|
HEPATITIS |
Hepatitis A & B infections cause loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), liver
failure, and death. Hepatitis B can also lead to liver
cancer. A blood test is used to tell which type of
hepatitis a person has. (pink book chapters
on hep
A and hep
B)
(view photos)
|
HERD IMMUNITY |
Having a large percentage of the population vaccinated in
order to prevent the spread of certain infectious
diseases. Even individuals not vaccinated (such as
newborns and those with chronic illnesses) are offered some
protection because the disease has little opportunity to
spread within the community.
|
HERPES ZOSTER |
A disease characterized by painful skin lesions that occur
mainly on the trunk (back and stomach) of the body but
which can also develop on the face and in the mouth.
Complications include headache, vomiting, fever and
meningitis. Recovery may take up to 5 weeks. Herpes Zoster
is caused by the same virus that is responsible for
chickenpox. Most people are exposed to this virus during
childhood. After the primary infection (chickenpox), the
virus becomes dormant, or inactivated. In some people the
virus reactivates years, or even decades, later and causes
herpes zoster. Also known as the shingles.
|
HIVES |
The eruption of red marks on the skin that are usually
accompanied by itching. This condition can be caused by an
allergy (e.g. to food or drugs), stress, infection or
physical agents (e.g. heat or cold). Also known as
uticaria.
|
HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS |
More than 100 types of HPV exist; more than 30 types can
infect the genital area. Genital HPV is the most common
sexually transmitted infection in the United States; an
estimated 6.2 million persons are newly infected every
year. Although the majority of infections cause no
clinical symptoms and are self-limited, persistent
infection with high-risk types can cause cervical cancer
in women. HPV infection also is the cause of genital warts
and is associated with other genital and anal cancers.
|
HYPERSENSITIVITY |
A condition in which the body has an exaggerated immune
response to a substance, e.g. food or drug. Also known as
an allergy.
|
IMMUNE GLOBULIN |
A protein found in the blood that fights infection. Also
known as gamma globulin.
|
IMMUNE RESPONSE |
Collective and coordinated response by the molecules and
cells of the immune system that result in the elimination
of naturally acquired disease-causing agents. This
response also can be triggered by vaccination leading to
immune protection against specific diseases.
|
IMMUNE SYSTEM |
Tissues, cells, and molecules found throughout the body
that work together in a coordinated fashion to eliminate
and prevent infections.
|
IMMUNITY |
Protection against a disease. There are two types of
immunity: active and passive. Active immunity is
protection that is produced by the person's own immune
system; this type of immunity is usually permanent.
Passive immunity is protection by products produced by an
animal or human and transferred to another human, usually
by injection. Passive immunity often provides effective
protection, but this protection wanes (disappears) over
time, usually a few weeks or months.
|
IMMUNIZATION |
The process by which a person or animal becomes protected
against a disease. This term is often used interchangeably
with vaccination or inoculation.
|
IMMUNOGENICITY |
The ability to produce a detectable immune response.
|
IMMUNOSUPPRESSED |
When the immune system is unable to protect the body from
disease. This condition can be caused by disease (like HIV
infection or cancer) or by certain drugs (like those used
in chemotherapy). Also known as immunocompromised.
|
INACTIVATED VACCINE |
A vaccine made from viruses and bacteria that have been
killed through physical or chemical processes; these
killed organisms cannot cause disease. Inactivated
vaccines always require multiple doses.
|
INCIDENCE |
The number of new disease cases reported in a population
over a certain period of time.
|
INFLUENZA |
Highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and
lungs. Commonly known as the flu, this seasonal disease can
be fatal to the aged, immunocompromised, and infants.
(pink book chapter on influenza) (view
photo)
|
LIVE ATTENUATED VACCINE |
Vaccine in which a live virus or bacteria is weakened
through chemical or physical processes in order to produce
an immune response without causing the severe effects of
the disease. Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, polio,
and yellow fever are live attenuated vaccines.
|
MEASLES |
Causes a rash, fever, cough, and can lead to pneumonia,
brain damage, hearing loss, and death.
(pink book chapter on measles) (view
photo)
|
MUMPS |
Causes fever and swollen, painful glands under the jaw. It
can lead to swelling of the brain and hearing loss.
(pink book chapter on mumps) (view
photo)
|
PANDEMIC |
An epidemic occurring over a very large area.
|
PATHOGENS |
Organisms, e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi,
that cause disease.
|
PERTUSSIS |
Also known as whooping cough. Can cause coughing and
choking that makes it hard to breathe. The cough can last
for many weeks and result in brain damage or death,
especially in infants under 1 year of age.
(pink book chapter on pertussis) (view
photo)
|
PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE |
Bacterial disease that causes pneumonia, bacteremia,
sinusitus, meningitis, and severe ear infections. The
disease is most common in children less than 2 years of age
and adults over 40 years of age, and occurs more often in
males than females at all ages.
(pink book chapter on pneumococcal disease) (view
photo)
|
POLIO |
A sometimes crippling disease that can also cause paralysis
and death.
(pink book chapter on polio) (view
photo)
|
POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE |
Vaccines that are composed of long chains of sugar
molecules that resemble the surface of certain types of
bacteria. Polysaccharide vaccines are available for
pneumococcal disease and meningococcal disease.
|
PRESERVATIVE |
An additive that protects vaccine against contamination or
spoilage.
|
PREVALENCE |
The number of disease cases (new and existing) within a
population over a given period of time.
|
RECOMBINANT |
Of or resulting from new combinations of genetic material
or cells; the genetic material produced when segments of
DNA from different sources are joined to produce
recombinant DNA.
|
RELATIVE RISK |
The ratio of the risk of disease in persons exposed to a
risk factor compared to the risk of disease in persons not
exposed to the risk factor.
|
RISK |
The likelihood that an individual will experience a certain
event.
|
ROTAVIRUS |
A group of viruses that cause diarrhea in children.
|
RUBELLA |
Also known as German measles. It is usually a mild disease
in children. However, infected children can spread the
disease to pregnant women. Babies born to women with
rubella can have severe birth defects.
(pink book chapter on rubella) (view
photo)
|
SHINGLES |
A disease characterized by painful skin lesions that occur
mainly on the trunk (back and stomach) of the body but
which can also develop on the face and in the mouth.
Complications include headache, vomiting, fever, and
meningitis. Recovery make take up to five weeks. Shingles
is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Most
people are exposed to this virus during childhood. After
the primary infection (chickenpox), the virus becomes
dormant, or inactivated. In some people, the infection
reactivates years, or even decades later and causes
shingles. Also known as herpes zoster.
|
SMALLPOX |
An acute, highly infectious, often fatal disease caused by
a poxvirus and characterized by high fever and aches with
subsequent widespread eruption of pimples that blister,
produce pus, and form pockmarks. Also called variola.
|
TETANUS |
Causes painful muscle spasms in the neck, arms, legs, back,
and abdomen. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the
person cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus can lead
to death.
(pink book chapter on tetanus) (view
photo)
|
THIMEROSAL |
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that has
been used in some vaccines and other products since the
1930's. There is no evidence that the low concentrations
of thimerosal in vaccines have caused any harm other than
minor reactions like redness or swelling at the injection
site. However, in July 1999 the U.S. Public Health
Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine
manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or
eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure.
Today, all routinely recommended childhood vaccines
manufactured for the U.S. market contain either no
thimerosal or only trace amounts.
|
VACCINATION |
Injection of a killed or weakened infectious organism in
order to prevent the disease.
|
VACCINE |
Interacts with the immune system and often produces an
immune response similar to that produced by the natural
infection, but does not subject the recipient to the
disease and its potential complications. Produces
immunologic memory similar to that acquired by having the
natural disease. There are two types: live attenuated and
inactivated.
|
VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING SYSTEM (VAERS) |
A database managed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. VAERS
provides a mechanism for the collection and analysis of
adverse events associated with vaccines currently licensed
in the United States. Reports to VAERS can be made by the
vaccine manufacturer, recipient, their parent/guardian or
health care provider. For more information on VAERS call
(800) 822-7967.
|
VARICELLA |
Also known as chickenpox. An itchy skin rash that can lead
to scarring. It can also result in serious complications
such as pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and possibly
death. (pink book chapter on varicella) (view
photo)
|