What are the different kinds of immunizations?

Live vaccines

- Contain weakened (attenuated) forms of the virus or bacteria that causes a disease.

- Examples: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), rotavirus, polio

Inactivated vaccines

- Contain killed viruses or bacteria that have been chemically inactivated.

- Examples: polio, hepatitis A, rabies

Toxoid vaccines

- Contain inactivated toxins produced by bacteria.

- Examples: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)

Subunit vaccines

- Contain purified pieces of a virus or bacteria.

- Examples: hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV)

Conjugate vaccines

- Combine a polysaccharide (a type of sugar) from the bacteria with a protein carrier.

- Examples: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), meningococcal, pneumococcal

mRNA vaccines

- Contain messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes the antigen of the virus or bacteria.

- Examples: COVID-19

Immune System Disorders - Related Articles