Immunization Related Terms
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Pandemic
An epidemic occurring over a very large area.
Papular
Marked by small red-colored elevation of the skin.
Passive Immunity
Protection against disease through antibodies produced by another human being or animal. Passive immunity is effective, but protection is generally limited and diminishes over time (usually a few weeks or months). For example, maternal antibodies are passed to the infant prior to birth. These antibodies temporarily protect the baby for the first 4-6 months of life.
Pathogens
Organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi) that cause disease in human beings.
Pertussis
(whooping cough) Bacterial infectious disease marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough, sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath.
Petechiae
['pe TEEK ee ay'] a tiny reddish or purplish spot on the skin or mucous membrane, commonly part of infectious diseases such as typhoid fever.
Placebo
A substance or treatment that has no effect on human beings.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs characterized by fever, chills, muscle stiffness, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing.
Poliomyelitis
(polio) An acute infectious viral disease characterized by fever, paralysis, and atrophy of skeletal muscles.
Polysaccharide Vaccines
Vaccines that are composed of long chains of sugar molecules that resemble the surface of certain types of bacteria. Polysaccharide vaccines are available for pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease and Haemophilus Influenzae type b.
Potency
A measure of strength.
Precaution
A condition in a recipient which may result in a life-threatening problem if the vaccine is given, or a condition which could compromise the ability of the vaccine to produce immunity.
Prevalence
The number of disease cases (new and existing) within a population over a given time period.
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