Vaccine (Latin Vaccinus — Cow)

A specially prepared preparation of an antigen characteristic of the causative agent of a given disease; it must be active enough to induce the formation of antibodies in the body, but not so active as to have a harmful effect. A vaccine is a weakened or killed microorganism that is introduced into the body in order to develop immunity to a given infectious disease. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies without causing the disease itself. The first vaccine was created by Edward Jenner in 1796 against smallpox by injecting people with cowpox. This is where the Latin name vaccinus (“cow”) comes from. Since then, vaccination has become one of the main methods of preventing infectious diseases.