Pediatric Immunization

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering terms, classifications, vaccine types, and administration details from the Pediatric Immunization lecture.

Immunization

The deliberate stimulation of an immune response in a person by giving a specific agent to protect against an infectious disease.

Active Immunity

Immunity developed in response to stimulus by an antigen (infecting agent or vaccine) and characterized by the production of antibodies by the host.

Passive Immunity

Immunity conferred by an antibody produced in another host, which may be acquired naturally or artificially.

Antiserum

A blood serum rich in specific antibodies, derived from humans or animals, used to confer rapid, temporary passive immunity against specific diseases, toxins, or venoms.

Vaccine

A substance designed to produce specific protection against a given disease that is antigenic but not pathogenic.

Antigen

A live or inactivated substance (e.g., protein) capable of producing an immune response.

Antibody

A protein molecule (immunoglobulin) produced by B lymphocytes to help eliminate an antigen.

Immunoglobulins

Antibodies comprising 5 major classes (IgM, IgA, IgG, IgE, IgD) available as normal human immunoglobulin or specific (hyper-immune) human immunoglobulin for passive immunization.

Palivizumab

A monoclonal antibody administered intramuscularly as prophylaxis for infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Live Attenuated Vaccines

Vaccines made from virulent pathogenic organisms treated to become attenuated and avirulent, losing their capacity to induce disease while retaining immunogenicity.

Inactivated Vaccines

Vaccines composed of killed or inactivated pathogens, whole viruses, bacteria, protein subunits, toxoids, or polysaccharides that cannot replicate, stimulate mostly humoral immune response, and require $3\text{--}5$ doses.

Toxoids

Vaccines prepared by detoxifying bacterial exotoxins to render them antigenic but not pathogenic, inducing antibodies that neutralize the toxic moiety during infection.

Adjuvant

A substance (e.g., alum precipitation) used in vaccine preparation to increase the potency of the vaccine.

Thiomersal

A mercurial substance added to vaccines as a preservative and stabilizer to prevent bacterial growth.

Primary Vaccination

Initial vaccine administration consisting of a single dose (e.g., BCG, Measles) or multiple doses (e.g., Polio, DPT, Hepatitis B) to induce primary immunity.

Booster Vaccination

Vaccination administered to maintain immunity level after it declines over time following primary vaccination.

Absolutely Protective Vaccines

Vaccines with $100\%$ level of effectiveness, exemplified by the Yellow fever vaccine.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine

A live attenuated vaccine given at a dose of $0.05\,\text{ml}$ intradermally in the left upper arm at $0\text{--}1$ week of age, sensitive to heat and light, requiring unused portions to be discarded after $4\,\text{hours}$.

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

A live attenuated oral vaccine given as $2\,\text{drops}$, sensitive to heat, tracked with a vaccine vial monitor, and contraindicated in patients with inherited or acquired immunodeficiency or symptomatic HIV.

Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)

An inactivated vaccine given in a $0.5\,\text{ml}$ dose via intramuscular or subcutaneous route, stored at $2\text{--}8\,^\circ\text{C}$, and sensitive to light.

Rotavirus Vaccine

An orally administered vaccine (RV1 in 2 doses or RV5 in 3 doses starting at $6\text{--}14$ weeks) contraindicated in infants with a past history of intussusception or severe immunodeficiency.

Immunization Schedule In Iraq

The national timeline detailing specified pediatric vaccine combinations and dosages administered from age $0\text{--}1$ week up to $4\text{--}6$ years.