vaccinum

Vaccinum, more commonly known as a vaccine, is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. Typically, a vaccine contains an agent that resembles the disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as a threat, destroy it, and keep a record of it. If the body later encounters the actual disease-causing microorganism, the immune system is prepared to quickly destroy it.

Vaccines are administered through injection, by mouth, or by aerosol. The effectiveness of vaccination has been demonstrated in the eradication of diseases like smallpox and the significant reduction in the incidence of many others, including polio, measles, and tetanus. While most people tolerate vaccines well, some may experience mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site, a low-grade fever, or fatigue. Serious adverse reactions are rare. The development and widespread use of vaccines have been a cornerstone of modern public health, contributing to increased life expectancy and improved quality of life globally.