PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES Meaning and
Definition
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Pneumococcal vaccines form a type of immunization designed to prevent infections caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, commonly known as pneumococcus. These vaccines help protect individuals from different strains of pneumococcal bacteria, which can lead to severe illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and ear infections.
There are two main types of pneumococcal vaccines: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV). PCV, such as Prevnar 13, is generally administered to infants and young children, as well as individuals at high risk of developing pneumococcal infections. PPV, known as Pneumovax 23, is typically given to adults aged 65 and older, as well as people with certain medical conditions.
Pneumococcal vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies, which recognize and destroy pneumococcal bacteria. By introducing a small, harmless portion of the bacteria or certain bacterial components into the body, the vaccines train the immune system to respond more effectively when encountering the actual bacteria, reducing the risk of severe infection.
It is essential to follow the recommended vaccine schedules and receive booster doses if recommended, as the immunity provided by pneumococcal vaccines can decrease over time. These vaccines have significantly contributed to preventing pneumococcal diseases and their associated complications, reducing hospitalizations and deaths related to pneumonia and meningitis worldwide.
Common Misspellings for PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES
- oneumococcal vaccines
- lneumococcal vaccines
- -neumococcal vaccines
- 0neumococcal vaccines
- pbeumococcal vaccines
- pmeumococcal vaccines
- pjeumococcal vaccines
- pheumococcal vaccines
- pnwumococcal vaccines
- pnsumococcal vaccines
- pndumococcal vaccines
- pnrumococcal vaccines
- pn4umococcal vaccines
- pn3umococcal vaccines
- pneymococcal vaccines
- pnehmococcal vaccines
- pnejmococcal vaccines
- pneimococcal vaccines
- pne8mococcal vaccines
- pne7mococcal vaccines
Etymology of PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES
The word "pneumococcal" is derived from the Greek words "pneuma" meaning "breath" or "lung" and "kokkos" meaning "berry" or "grain". It refers to a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is commonly found in the respiratory system. The term "vaccine" originates from the Latin word "vaccīnus", which means "pertaining to cows" as the first vaccine was developed using cowpox virus. Today, it refers to a biological substance that helps stimulate an immune response and protects against specific diseases. Thus, "pneumococcal vaccines" refers to immunizations designed to prevent infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
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