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 [..]

A vaccine in which a polysaccharide antigen is chemically joined with a protein molecule to improve the immunogenicity of the polysaccharide.

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.

Vaccinations that are given to people over 18 years of age (i.e. booster tetanus shots, annual influenza shots, and pneumococcal or pneumonia vaccine).

Any undesirable side effect that may result from a vaccination.

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.

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 certai [..]

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).

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.

(Plural for bacterium