Glossary
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Immunization | The process of being made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. It implies that a vaccine will trigger an immune response. Vaccines |
| Immunization schedule | A recommended timetable of which vaccines to give at which ages, designed to protect people when they are most vulnerable and when vaccines work best. Vaccines |
| Immunocompromised | Having a weakened immune system because of illness, medication, or treatment. Immunocompromised people may respond less well to vaccines and usually should not receive live vaccines. Vaccines |
| Immunogenicity | The ability of a vaccine to provoke an immune response, such as producing antibodies or activating T cells. Vaccines |
| Immunoglobulin | A protein found in the blood that fights infection. Also known as gamma globulin. Vaccines |
| Immunosupression | A condition in which the immune system is unable to protect the body from disease. This condition can be caused by diseases such as HIV infection or cancer or by certain drugs, such as steroids or those used in chemotherapy. Individuals whose immune systems are compromised should not receive live, attenuated vaccines. Vaccines |
| Impossible expectations | Demanding unrealistic standards of certainty or proof before accepting a scientific finding or acting on it. Science Literacy |
| Inactivated Vaccine | A vaccine made from viruses and bacteria that have been killed through physical or chemical processes, or contain parts proteins of the infectious agents. These killed organisms cannot cause disease. Vaccines |
| Incidence and Prevalence | Incidence is the number of new cases in a period; prevalence is the total number of existing cases at a given time. Public Health |
| Incubation period | The time between exposure to a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms. Vaccines |