Live, Attenuated Vaccines

Live, attenuated vaccines are types of vaccines which use a weakened version of a virus or bacteria. These weakened organisms cause the body to produce antibodies that protect the body against a fully active version of the organism in the future. This type of vaccine is very effective at preventing illnesses caused by the virus or bacteria and can be used to protect individuals from serious and life-threatening diseases like measles, chickenpox and rotavirus. Live, attenuated vaccines have been safely used for several decades and are currently the only type of vaccine available to prevent certain diseases.