Chapter 22

Vaccines

Robert E. Smith

Abstract

An extremely important part of disease prevention is vaccination, which improves the immune response to a particular disease. Vaccines save lives and prevent deadly diseases that used to take millions of lives, especially the ones of infants. Vaccines can be made from dead or inactive organisms or viruses. Vaccines can also contain “live” attenuated viruses. The tetanus and diphtheria vaccines contain inactivated toxic compounds. Children should be vaccinated against hepatitis B, hepatitis A, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Pneumococcus, measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, human papilloma virus (HPV), Meningococcus, Orthomyxoviridae (flu virus) and varicella (chicken pox).

Total Pages: 526-537 (12)

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