What is the difference between killed vaccine and live vaccine

Getting vaccinated is easy. See how vaccines are developed, approved, and monitored. Suite L Washington, D. A-Z Index. Vaccine Types. When scientists create vaccines, they consider: How your immune system responds to the germ Who needs to be vaccinated against the germ The best technology or approach to create the vaccine Based on a number of these factors, scientists decide which type of vaccine they will make.

There are several types of vaccines, including: Inactivated vaccines Live-attenuated vaccines Messenger RNA mRNA vaccines Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines Toxoid vaccines Viral vector vaccines Inactivated vaccines Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ that causes a disease.

Inactivated vaccines are used to protect against: Hepatitis A Flu shot only Polio shot only Rabies Live-attenuated vaccines Live vaccines use a weakened or attenuated form of the germ that causes a disease. But live vaccines also have some limitations. These vaccines are used to protect against: Hib Haemophilus influenzae type b disease Hepatitis B HPV Human papillomavirus Whooping cough part of the DTaP combined vaccine Pneumococcal disease Meningococcal disease Shingles Toxoid vaccines Toxoid vaccines use a toxin harmful product made by the germ that causes a disease.

This vaccine was approved across Europe for use in , and has been used in multiple Ebola outbreaks to protect over 90, people. Non-replicating viral vectors do not retain the ability to make new viral particles during the process of delivering the vaccine antigen to the cell.

This is because key viral genes that enable the virus to replicate have been removed in the lab. This has the advantage that the vaccine cannot cause disease and adverse events associated with viral vector replication are reduced.

However, vaccine antigen can only be produced as long as the initial vaccine remains in infected cells a few days. This means the immune response is generally weaker than with replicating viral vectors and booster doses are likely to be required. A viral vectored vaccine developed to prevent Ebola was licensed for use by the European Medicines Agency in July Medical content reviewed by Professor Andrew Pollard.

Please click here to contact us if you have comments about the Vaccine Knowledge website. You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider if you need specific advice on vaccines for you or your child. Skip to main content. Search form. Types of vaccine. Whole Pathogen Vaccines The oldest and most well-known method of vaccination is to use the whole disease-causing pathogen in a vaccine to produce an immune response similar to that seen during natural infection.

Live attenuated vaccines used in the UK schedule: Rotavirus vaccine MMR vaccine Nasal flu vaccine Shingles vaccine Chickenpox vaccine special groups only BCG vaccine against TB special groups only Live travel vaccines used in the UK: Yellow fever vaccine Oral typhoid vaccine not the injected vaccine Inactivated Vaccines Inactivated vaccines contain whole bacteria or viruses which have been killed or have been altered, so that they cannot replicate.

Recombinant Protein Vaccines Recombinant vaccines are made using bacterial or yeast cells to manufacture the vaccine. This contains proteins from the surface of meningococcal bacteria. Three of the proteins are made using recombinant technology. Toxoid Vaccines Some bacteria release toxins poisonous proteins when they attack the body, and it is the toxins rather than the bacteria itself that we want to be protected against. Toxoid vaccines used in the UK schedule: Diphtheria vaccine in the 6-in-1 vaccine , pre-school booster , teenage booster and pertussis vaccine in pregnancy Tetanus vaccine in the 6-in-1 vaccine , pre-school booster , teenage booster and pertussis vaccine in pregnancy Pertussis whooping cough vaccine in the 6-in-1 vaccine , pre-school booster and pertussis vaccine in pregnancy.

This contains pertussis toxoid, together with proteins from the surface of the pertussis bacteria. Virus Like Particles Virus-like particles VLPs are molecules that closely resemble viruses, but are non-infectious because they contain no viral genetic material.

The Future of Immunization. Vaccines for Pandemic Threats. Viruses and Evolution. History and Society [ ]. Cultural Perspectives on Vaccination. Disease Eradication. Ethical Issues and Vaccines. History of Anti-vaccination Movements. Influenza Pandemics. The Development of the Immunization Schedule. The History of the Lyme Disease Vaccine. The Scientific Method in Vaccine History.

Military and Vaccine History. Vaccination Exemptions. Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs. Vaccine Testing and Vulnerable Human Subjects.

Vaccine Information [ ]. Different Types of Vaccines. Government Regulation. Vaccine Development, Testing, and Regulation. Vaccine Side Effects and Adverse Events. Vaccines for Adults. Vaccines for Teenagers. Vaccine-Preventable Diseases [ ]. Chickenpox Varicella. Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. History of Polio Poliomyelitis. Human Papillomavirus Infection. Meningococcal Disease. Pertussis Whooping Cough.

In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Thimerosal FAQs. Updated August 19, Accessed November 6, Advisory committee on immunization practices recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older - United States, PMID: pubmed.

Advisory committee on immunization practices recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger - United States, Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Updated by: Neil K. Editorial team. Vaccines immunizations. Vaccines are used to boost your immune system and prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.