immune response

immune system

immune thrombocytopenic purpura

immunity

immunization

immunize

immunized

immunizing

immunocompromised

Immunization Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion ˌi-myə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

 also  i-ˌmyü-nə-

: the act of making someone or something immune or the state of being immune : the act or result of immunizing someone or something: such as

a

: the production of immunity in a living organism against a disease or pathogenic agent

The plasmids used for immunization have been altered to carry genes specifying one or more antigenic proteins normally made by a selected pathogen …—David B. Weiner et al.

also : treatment (as by vaccination) for the purpose of making an organism immune to a disease or pathogenic agent : the administration of an immune-producing substance

Measles is the single most infectious common disease—one person with measles who blunders into a crowded room will give it to almost everyone. If there were no immunization, measles would be universal. —Wayne Biddle

Those benefits can include preventive care, such as annual physicals, immunizations, and well-baby visits. —Consumer Reports

b

: the providing of protection or exemption from something harmful or unwanted (such as legal action)

immunization from liability

The Interior Department is negotiating with other private landowners to extend similar immunization from prosecution to those who agree to avoid activities that might hurt the bird's chances of survival. —Ken Miller

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of immunization was in 1889

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near

immunity

immunization

immunize

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“Immunization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunization. Accessed 17 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

ˌim-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən

: treatment (as with a vaccine) to produce immunity to a disease

Medical Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

: the creation of immunity usually against a particular disease

especially : treatment (as by vaccination) of an organism for the purpose of making it immune to a particular pathogen

immunization against polio

More from Merriam-Webster on

Nglish: Translation of immunization for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of immunization for Arabic Speakers

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

"The Importance of Immunization" - Official website of the Tazovsky District

"The Importance of Immunization"

How to protect a fragile and susceptible children's body from various infections?

Vaccinations, their importance for children's health is simply priceless, it is an affordable method of preventing various incurable diseases.

Immunization is recognized worldwide as one of the most successful and effective public health interventions in preserving human life and health. nine0005

What is immunization and what is it for?

A vaccine is a medical product made from killed microorganisms or their antigens obtained by chemical processes. During the production of the vaccine, microorganisms are cleared of unnecessary impurities. Only those components remain that are required for reliable defense against harmful diseases.

The main task of vaccination is to strengthen the body's defenses, to form it resistant, immune to various dangerous diseases. nine0005

Timely vaccination will help protect children and adults from such dangerous diseases as: polio, rubella, measles, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus.

Penetrating into the body, the causative agents of these ailments can cause conditions that can end very sadly. Timely vaccination reduces the total number of recorded diseases and deaths from various infectious diseases.

Preventive vaccinations and their importance.

The entire list of vaccines is approved and placed in the form of the National Calendar, which has its own characteristics in each country.

Why are infections particularly dangerous for children?

Kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions are ideal places for the spread of infectious diseases due to the large number of children in close contact with each other. Highly contagious infections such as influenza, whooping cough, diphtheria, pneumococcal and meningococcal infections become especially dangerous here. nine0005

Some of the most common infections are measles, rubella, mumps, influenza and whooping cough. They are spread by airborne droplets.

Measles is characterized by high fever, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and respiratory tract, rash, and general intoxication.

Rubella accompanied by fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, intoxication.

Parotitis (colloquially "mumps") affects the nervous system, parotid glands. Parotitis often becomes one of the causes of male infertility. nine0005

Influenza is one of the most severe acute respiratory viral infections, characterized by high fever and severe intoxication, which can lead to various complications, especially in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which in some cases can lead to death.

Meningococcal disease is a dangerous, severe and life-threatening airborne bacterial infection.

Staying in an organized group is an increased risk of contracting meningococcal infection (close contact, carrier frequency can reach 20-40%). nine0005

Whooping cough is an acute airborne bacterial infection, manifested by prolonged and painful bouts of spasmodic cough and intoxication.

90 out of 100 non-vaccinated people will get whooping cough.

About 80% of cases of whooping cough in toddlers are older children, adolescents and adults.

More than 50% of the sick are preschoolers and schoolchildren.

Cough may last more than 3 months.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection. The initial stage can be confused with angina. Dangerous damage to the heart, kidneys and nervous system, can cause suffocation. nine0005

Tetanus is an extremely dangerous infectious disease of a bacterial nature. It enters the body through contaminated wounds. Severe course with damage to the nervous system, convulsions. Mortality up to 20%.

Vaccination is designed to help prevent dangerous infectious diseases.

Do not expose yourself and your loved ones to unjustified risk - get the necessary vaccinations in a timely manner!

754

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nine0104 Questions and answers /
• Questions and answers /
• Vaccines and immunization: What is vaccination?

August 30, 2021 | FAQ

Revised August 10, 2021

What is vaccination?

Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way to protect against diseases before a person comes into contact with their pathogens. Vaccination activates the body's natural defense mechanisms to build resistance to a range of infectious diseases and makes your immune system stronger. nine0005

Like diseases, vaccines train the immune system to produce specific antibodies. However, vaccines contain only killed or attenuated forms of the causative agents of a particular disease - viruses or bacteria - that do not lead to the disease and do not create the risk of complications associated with it.

Most vaccines are administered by injection, although oral administration is also available. vaccines (given by mouth), and nasal spray vaccines (given through the nose).

What is the principle of the vaccine? nine0005

Vaccines reduce the risk of disease by activating natural defense mechanisms to build immunity to the pathogen. Vaccination provokes the body's immune response. Immune system:

• Recognizes pathogens such as viruses or bacteria.
• Starts production of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins naturally produced by the body's immune system to fight disease.
• Remembers the causative agent of the disease in order to deal with it in the future. If this pathogen enters the body again, the immune system will quickly destroy it, preventing the development of the disease. nine0105

Thus, vaccination is a safe and rational way to induce an immune response in the body without the need to infect it with a particular disease.

Our immune system has a memory. By receiving one or more doses of a vaccine, we are usually protected against a particular disease for many years, decades, or even a lifetime. This is what makes vaccines so effective. Vaccines keep us from getting sick, which is much better than having to treat the disease when it has already begun. nine0005

When should I get vaccinated (or have my child vaccinated)?

Vaccines protect us throughout our lives and at all ages - from birth, through childhood, through adolescence and into old age. In most countries, people are given vaccination cards that show which vaccinations an adult or child has received and when the next vaccinations are due. It is important that all indicated vaccinations are up to date.

By delaying vaccination, we put ourselves at risk of becoming seriously ill. If we wait until the moment when a vaccine is urgently needed - for example, if an outbreak of a disease has begun - then it may be too late to get the desired effect of vaccination or all the necessary doses of the vaccine. nine0249

Why do I need to be vaccinated?

Without vaccination, we are at risk of serious diseases such as measles, meningitis, pneumonia, tetanus and polio. Many of these diseases are life threatening. The WHO estimates that childhood vaccines alone save more than 4 million lives each year.

Although some diseases are becoming less common, their pathogens continue to circulate in some or all regions of the world. In today's world, infectious diseases can easily cross borders and infect anyone who lacks immunity to them. nine0005

There are two main reasons to get vaccinated: to protect yourself and to protect others. Since some people, such as newborns and people with serious illnesses or those with certain allergies, may not be vaccinated, their protection against vaccine-preventable diseases depends on the availability of vaccinations in others.

Who should not be vaccinated?

Almost anyone can get vaccinated. However, for people with certain diseases and conditions, some vaccinations are contraindicated or should be deferred to a later date. These diseases and conditions may include:

• chronic diseases or treatments (eg chemotherapy) that suppress the immune system;
• extremely rare acute and life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccine components;
• severe illness at the time of vaccination. However, these children should be vaccinated as soon as they recover. Moderate malaise or subfebrile temperature is not a contraindication for vaccination.

Often the need to consider these factors depends on the type of vaccine. If you are not sure whether you or your child should get a particular vaccine, ask your doctor. Your doctor will help you make an informed decision about your or your child's vaccinations. nine0104 Tetanus

A number of vaccines for some other diseases, including Ebola or malaria, are currently under development or experimental use, but these vaccines have not yet been introduced in mass use throughout the world.

Not all vaccinations may be required in your country. Vaccinations against certain diseases may only be required for people who travel to certain countries or who are at increased risk due to their professional activities. Ask your doctor what vaccinations you and your family members need. nine0005

Why are vaccinations started at such an early age?

In their daily lives, young children may be in many different places and come into contact with a wide variety of people, thereby being at serious risk of infection. The WHO-recommended immunization schedule allows infants and young children to be protected as early as possible against a range of diseases. Often, infants and young children are most at risk of illness because their immune systems are not yet fully developed and their bodies are less able to fight off infections. Therefore, it is extremely important to vaccinate children according to the recommended schedule. nine0249

What is included in the vaccine?

All components of a vaccine play an important role in its safety and efficacy. The composition of vaccines, in particular, includes the following components:

• Antigen. This is a killed or weakened form of any microorganism - a virus or a bacterium - on which our body learns to recognize and destroy the causative agent of the disease if it encounters it in the future.
• Adjuvants that help enhance the body's immune response. Without them, vaccines would be less effective. nine0105
• Preservatives to keep vaccines effective.
• Stabilizers to preserve the vaccine during storage and transport.

The names of the ingredients on vaccines can be confusing. However, many of them are naturally present in the body, environment and food. All of the components of vaccines, like the vaccines themselves, are subject to rigorous testing and monitoring for their safety.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccination is safe and usually causes minor and temporary side effects, such as arm pain or mild fever. More serious side effects are possible, but they are extremely rare.

Any licensed vaccine is rigorously tested through several phases of clinical trials before it is approved for use and regularly evaluated after introduction. Scientists are also constantly monitoring information from a range of sources for signs that a given vaccine may pose a health risk. nine0005

It must be remembered that the risk of serious harm to health from a vaccine-preventable disease is much greater than the risk associated with vaccination. For example, tetanus can cause severe pain, convulsions and thrombosis, and measles can lead to encephalitis (infection of the brain) and blindness. Many vaccine-preventable diseases can even be fatal. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, and without vaccines, the world would experience an order of magnitude more illness and death. nine0249

My child did not receive the recommended vaccinations on time. Is it too late to get the missing vaccinations?

In most cases, it is never too late to get the missing shots. Ask your doctor how and when you or your child can get the missing shots.

Do vaccines have side effects?

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause mild side effects such as low grade fever and pain or redness at the injection site. These symptoms usually go away on their own within a few days. nine0249

Severe or long-term side effects are extremely rare. The chance of experiencing a serious adverse body reaction to a vaccine is 1 in a million.

The safety of vaccines is subject to ongoing monitoring and is continuously monitored for rare adverse reactions.

How are vaccines developed and tested?

The most commonly used vaccines have been in use for decades, and every year millions of people receive them safely. Like all medicines, every vaccine must undergo extensive, rigorous testing to assess its safety before it can be introduced in countries. nine0005

Experimental vaccines are first tested in animals to evaluate their safety and ability to prevent disease. They are then tested in human clinical trials, which consist of three phases.

• During the first phase of the trial, the vaccine is given to a small number of volunteers to evaluate its safety, make sure it generates an immune response, and determine the correct dose.

• During the second phase of the trial, the vaccine is typically administered to hundreds of volunteers who are closely monitored for any side effects and further evaluation of its ability to generate an immune response. Data on disease outcomes are also collected at this stage whenever possible, but these data are usually not sufficient to provide a clear picture of the impact of the vaccine on the disease. Participants in this phase of the trial share the same characteristics (such as age and gender) as the people for whom the vaccine is intended. At this stage, some volunteers receive the vaccine and others do not, allowing comparisons to be made and conclusions about the vaccine to be made. nine0249

• During the third phase of the trial, the vaccine is administered to thousands of volunteers, some of whom receive the study vaccine and some do not, as in the second phase of the trial. The data from both groups are carefully compared to determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective in protecting against the disease it is intended to target.

Following clinical trial results, a number of steps must be taken before a vaccine can be included in a national immunization program, including efficacy, safety, and manufacturing reviews for regulatory approval and public health policy approval. nine0005

Following the introduction of the vaccine, careful monitoring continues to be carried out to identify any unexpected unwanted side effects and further evaluate its effectiveness under conditions of regular use in even more people, which will allow understanding how to best use the vaccine to ensure the greatest protective effect. For more information on vaccine development and safety, click here.

Can a child have more than one vaccine at a time? nine0005

Scientific evidence shows that the simultaneous administration of several vaccines does not have negative consequences. Every day, children are exposed to several hundred foreign substances that trigger the body's immune response. A simple meal is accompanied by the entry of new microorganisms into the body, and many bacteria live in the nose and mouth.

The ability to combine multiple vaccines (such as diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus) reduces the number of injections and reduces discomfort for the child. In addition, it allows you to know for sure that the child received the right vaccinations at the right time and will not catch a potentially fatal disease. nine0005

Is there a link between vaccination and autism?

There is no evidence of any association between vaccination and autism spectrum disorders. This conclusion was drawn from the results of many studies conducted on very large groups of people.

In 1998, a study was published raising concerns about a possible link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, but the study later found a number of serious misrepresentations and falsified information. The journal that published this work later withdrew it, and the doctor who wrote it lost his license to practice medicine. Unfortunately, due to fears caused by this publication, vaccination rates in some countries dropped sharply, which subsequently led to outbreaks of these diseases. nine0005

We all have a responsibility to take the necessary steps to disseminate only reliable, evidence-based information about vaccines and the diseases that vaccines help prevent.

Does my daughter need to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV)?

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by sexually transmitted HPV infection. Vaccination against HPV before a person comes into contact with this virus is the most effective means of protection against this disease. Studies in Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Sweden showed that vaccination reduced the number of HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women to almost 90%.

Studies have proven the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine. WHO recommends that all girls aged 9–14 years be vaccinated with two doses of the HPV vaccine, and that women be periodically screened for cervical cancer later in life.

I have questions about vaccinations. Who should I contact?

If you have any questions about vaccinations, be sure to ask your doctor. He or she will be able to give you evidence-based information about vaccinations, including the recommended vaccination schedule in your country for you and your family members. nine0005

When looking for information about vaccines on the Internet, look only to trusted sources. To help you find these sources, WHO has reviewed and "certified" many websites in many languages ​​around the world to contain only information based on sound scientific evidence and independent analysis by leading technical experts.

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