Immunizations-Topic Overview
What are immunizations?Immunizations, also called vaccinations, help protect you or your child from diseases. When you are given an immunization, you receive a vaccine that contains fragments of a disease organism or small amounts of a weakened disease organism. The vaccine causes your immune ...
Vaccine for Deadly Childhood Infection in the Works
An international team of researchers has assembled a mosaic with more than 2 million pieces to complete a picture of a strain of bacteria that causes a rapidly fatal form of meningitis. Now that they have clues to the bacteria's mode of operation, researchers can design a vaccine to prevent ...
Meningococcal vaccines and herd immunity: lessons learned from serogroup C conjugate vaccination pro
Are individuals who are not vaccinated for meningococcal serogroup C conjugate less at risk for contracting the disease?
Meningococcal Vaccines: What You Need to Know
Fact sheet about the meningococcal vaccine from the CDC.
Immunization Strategies for Clostridium Difficile Infections
The limited ability of antibiotics to cure C. difficile infection and prevent relapse highlights the need for new strategies such as immunization.
Immunogenicity and Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine
How do we improve immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine in older adults?
Influenza Vaccine: The Basics
WebMD explains what the flu vaccine is and whether it’s effective against all types of flu viruses including the recent outbreak of swine flu, as well as bird flu and types A, B, and C.
Measles on Upswing Despite Vaccines' Effectiveness: CDC
Vaccination has saved thousands of lives, report says, but outbreaks occurring as some people opt out
Current Adjuvants, New Perspectives in Vaccine Formulation
A new generation of adjuvants are emerging in effective vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer.
Measles: A Tale of Two Outbreaks
The current measles outbreak, which has topped 100 cases so far, is believed to have started at two Disney theme parks in California.
Chickenpox Vaccine Not Responsible for Rise in Shingles, Study Says
39 percent increase over 18 years remains unexplained
The Economics of Vaccination Against TB
How cost-effective is universal TB vaccination?
Measles Still a Threat, U.S. Health Officials Warn
Sporadic outbreaks caused by travelers to countries without vaccination programs, doctors say
CMV Vaccine in the Works
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause birth defects if exposure happens during pregnancy; an experimental vaccine may curb CMV infection, new research shows.
Rotavirus Vaccination: Short vs Long-term Herd Protection
Rotavirus vaccination has dramatically improved the health of children in the USA; but long-term, indirect protection may be limited.
Gov't Issues Meningitis Vaccine Alert
Five American teens reportedly developed a serious neurological condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome after being vaccinated with Menactra, which is made by Sanofi Pasteur.
The Evolving History of Influenza Viruses and Vaccines
How has the influenza vaccine evolved to match the evolution of influenza viruses?
Re-emergence of Pertussis
Vaccine-preventable pertussis is on the rise. What new vaccine approaches can be used to control this disease?
Chickenpox Vaccine
Find WebMD's comprehensive coverage of chickenpox vaccine including medical reference, news, pictures, videos, and more.
The Meningitis Vaccines: What Parents Should Know
Meningitis vaccines can protect against most types of meningococcal disease. Should you get a vaccine for your child or teen? Here is information parents should know.