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Browse the Medical Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

vaccine

Main Entry:: vac·cine
Pronunciation:: \vak-ˈsēn, ˈvak-ˌ\
Function:: noun

1: matter or a preparation containing the virus of cowpox used to vaccinate a person against smallpox2: a preparation of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease <chicken pox vaccine>; also : a mixture of several such vaccines <measles-mumps-rubella vaccine>

Learn more about "vaccine" and related topics at Britannica.com

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