Immunization Related Terms
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Vaccination
Injection of a killed or weakened infectious organism in order to prevent the disease.
Vaccine
A product that produces immunity therefore protecting the body from the disease. Vaccines are administered through needle injections, by mouth and by aerosol.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
A database managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. VAERS provides a mechanism for the collection and analysis of adverse events associated with vaccines currently licensed in the United States. Reports to VAERS can be made by the vaccine manufacturer, recipient, their parent/guardian or health care provider. For more information on VAERS call (800) 822-7967.
Vaccine Safety Datalink Project (VSD)
In order to increase knowledge about vaccine adverse events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have formed partnerships with eight large health Management Organizations (HMOs) to continually evaluate vaccine safety. The project contains data on more than 6 million people. Medical records are monitored for potential adverse events following immunization. The VSD project allows for planned vaccine safety studies as well as timely investigations of hypothesis.
Varicella
(Chickenpox) An acute contagious disease characterized by papular and vesicular lesions.
Variola
See smallpox.
Vesicular
Characterized by small elevations of the skin containing fluid (blisters).
Viremia
The presence of a virus in the blood.
Virus
A tiny organism that multiples within cells and causes disease such as chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis and hepatitis. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, the drugs used to kill bacteria.
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