Types of Vaccines

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines contain a weakened or dead form of the disease-causing organism, or a component of the organism, to stimulate the body’s own immune system. Vaccines are used to help people of all ages become immune to a wide range of diseases. The different types of vaccines available encompass live attenuated (weakened) vaccines, inactivated vaccines, toxoid vaccines, subunit vaccines, conjugate vaccines, recombinant vector vaccines and DNA vaccines, among others. Each vaccine type is designed to protect against specific diseases, with some providing protection against multiple infections. Vaccines are important for protecting people from illnesses that can cause severe complications and even death, and are critical for promoting herd immunity and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.