Attenuated vaccine

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Microscopic view of an attenuated virus used in vaccines.

Attenuated Vaccine

An attenuated vaccine is a vaccine created by reducing the virulence of a pathogen, but still keeping it viable or "live". This type of vaccine contrasts with those produced by "killing" the virus (inactivated vaccine).

Overview

Attenuated vaccines use a living organism that has been modified so it cannot cause disease in healthy people. The goal is to stimulate the immune system to recognize and combat the pathogen, without causing the actual disease.

Development

The development process of an attenuated vaccine involves growing the virus or bacterium in specific conditions that weaken or attenuate it. This could involve:

• Growing the pathogen in unusual temperatures.
• Cultivating it in cells it doesn’t usually infect.

Over time, these conditions result in the pathogen losing its disease-causing properties.

Benefits

• Strong Immune Response: Often elicits a more robust immune response than inactivated vaccines.
• Long-lasting Immunity: Can sometimes provide lifelong protection with just one or two doses.

Risks

While attenuated vaccines are generally safe, there are some risks:

• Reversion: In rare cases, the attenuated pathogen can revert to its disease-causing form and induce the disease it was intended to prevent.
• Weakened Immune System Concerns: These vaccines might not be safe for people with weakened immune systems, as even the attenuated form of the pathogen could cause illness.

A laboratory setting for vaccine production.

Examples

Famous attenuated vaccines include:

• Measles vaccine
• Mumps vaccine
• Rubella vaccine
• Oral polio vaccine

Storage and Stability

Attenuated vaccines often require stringent storage conditions, usually necessitating refrigeration. This can sometimes make distribution in regions without consistent cold storage facilities challenging.

See Also

• Inactivated vaccine
• Herd immunity
• Vaccination
• Immunization

External Links

• CDC: Vaccine Basics
• World Health Organization: Vaccines

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