Different
vaccines.
One goal.

These vaccines use a weakened, or "attenuated," form of the living germ (virus or bacteria) that causes a disease. This weakened germ doesn't cause serious illness in healthy people, but it's strong enough to teach your immune system how to fight the real thing. Your body then develops a strong, long-lasting protective response.

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Typically given to children (first dose around 12-15 months, second dose around 4-6 years). Also recommended for adults born in 1957 or later without evidence of immunity, and certain high-risk adults (e.g., healthcare personnel, international travelers).
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Protects against chickenpox. Given to children (first dose around 12-18 months, second dose around 4-6 years).
• Rotavirus (RV): Protects against rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. Given to infants in a series of doses starting around 2 months of age.

These vaccines use a "killed" version of the germ. The germ is completely inactivated (usually with heat or chemicals) so it can't cause disease. However, parts of the dead germ are still recognizable by your immune system, which then learns to build protection against it.

• Polio (IPV): Protects against polio. Given to children in a series of doses starting around 2 months of age.
• Hepatitis A (HepA): Protects against Hepatitis A, a liver infection. Given to children in a two-dose series starting around 12 months of age.

Instead of using the whole germ, these vaccines use only specific parts of it, like a protein, sugar, or a piece of its outer coating. These "subunits" are enough to trigger a strong immune response. These ingredients are vital to making vaccines safe and effective.

• Pneumococcal (PCV): Protects against pneumococcal disease, which can cause ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis. Given to children in a series of doses starting around 2 months of age.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can cause serious infections like meningitis and pneumonia. Given to children in a series of doses starting around 2 months of age.
• Hepatitis B (HepB): Protects against Hepatitis B, a liver infection. Given to children starting at birth, with additional doses around 2 and 6 months. Also available for adults.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Protects against Human Papillomavirus, which can cause certain cancers. Recommended for children and adolescents, typically starting around 9-10 years of age.
• Meningococcal (MenACWY, MenB): Protects against meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis. Recommended for adolescents, with doses around 11-12 years and a booster at 16 years. Meningitis B vaccine is also recommended.

Some bacteria cause disease by making harmful toxins (poisons) in the body. Toxoid vaccines use a weakened form of these toxins, called a "toxoid." This toxoid teaches your immune system to fight off the toxins, not the bacteria itself. So, if you're exposed to the real bacteria, your body can neutralize the toxins before they make you sick.

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
• DTaP: Given to children in a series of doses starting around 2 months of age.
• Tdap: A booster dose recommended for adolescents (around 11-12 years) and adults.

This is a newer type of vaccine. Instead of introducing a part of the germ, mRNA vaccines give your cells instructions (like a blueprint) to make a harmless piece of a protein from the virus. Your body's immune system then recognizes this protein piece as foreign and builds an immune response, including making antibodies. Once the instructions are delivered, your body gets rid of the mRNA.

• COVID-19: Protects against COVID-19. Available for both children and adults.

These vaccines use a modified version of a harmless virus (the "vector") to deliver important genetic instructions to your cells. These instructions tell your cells to make a protein that is found on the surface of the virus you want to protect against. Your immune system then recognizes this protein and builds a protective response. The viral vector used cannot cause disease in humans.

• COVID-19: Protects against COVID-19. Available for both children and adults.