Vaccine
Short description
A vaccine stimulates the immune system to develop a protective immune response against a specific pathogen or disease.
Synonyms
Inoculant
Serum
Detailed description
Vaccines may contain attenuated or inactivated pathogens, components of pathogens, or their antigens. Other vaccines, such as mRNA or vector vaccines, deliver genetic information that enables the body’s cells to temporarily produce an antigen. Vaccination activates the immune system and can generate immunological memory. This allows for a faster and more targeted response upon subsequent exposure to the pathogen. Some vaccines also contain adjuvants that enhance the immune response to the antigen.
