Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Killed vaccine

    A vaccine prepared from dead microorganisms. This type of vaccine is used to prevent disease caused by highly virulent microbes.  

  • Influenza virus vaccine

    A polyvalent vaccine containing either inactivated or live attenuated antigenic variants of the influenza virus (types A and B either individually or combined) for annual usage. It prevents epidemic disease and the morbidity and mortality caused by influenza virus, especially in the aged and persons with chronic illnesses. The vaccine is reformulated each year to…

  • Human diploid cell rabies vaccine

    An inactivated virus vaccine prepared from fixed rabies virus grown in human diploid cell tissue culture.  

  • Heterologous vaccine

    A vaccine derived from an organism different from the organism against which the vaccine is used.  

  • Heterogeneous vaccine

    A vaccine made from some source other than the patient’s own tissues or cells; the opposite of autogenous vaccine. A vaccine created from microorganisms obtained from a source other than the patient’s own body.  

  • Hepatitis B vaccine

    A vaccine prepared from hepatitis B protein antigen produced by genetically engineered yeast. The vaccine prevents acute infection with hepatitis B, the chronic carrier state of hepatitis B infection. In developing nations where hepatitis B infection is endemic, it has been shown to decrease the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma resulting from hepatitis B infection. The…

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

    A vaccine created by combining purified polysaccharide antigen from the H. influenzae bacteria and a carrier protein. It reduces the risks of childhood epiglottitis, meningitis, and other diseases caused by H. influenzae.  

  • Vaccine extra-immunization

    The giving of excessive or repetitive doses of vaccines to children or adults, usually because of incomplete or inaccurate recordkeeping.  

  • DPT vaccine

    An obsolete combination of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and killed pertussis bacilli that is no longer given in pediatric immunizations because of the superiority of DTaP, a vaccine that contains only acellular pertussis.  

  • Diphtheria vaccine

    A vaccination against corynebacterium diphtheriae.