immunization

plural immunizations · alternative UK immunisation

1. USuncountableThe process by which a person is safely exposed in a controlled manner to a material that is designed to prime their immune system against that material.

   Near-synonym: vaccination (broadly synonymous)

   2 more examples

   Immunization against influenza is important for all child-care workers.

   It will do little for the future of immunization to prepare excellent vaccines, test them to a fare-thee-well for safety and efficacy, and then not insure that they are adequately used.

   1961, Geoffrey Edsall, “The Future of Immunization”, in Public Health Reports, volume 76, number 9, page 816

   Synonyms: vaccination[Appendix:Glossary

2. UScountableOne such exposure.

   The first immunization a baby gets is against HBV.

   1 more example

   Our results are consistent with those obtained by other groups screening camelid-derived libraries, where an impressive diversity in the Nb nucleotide sequence, specificity and neutralizing capacity was found, especially after successive immunizations to promote the development of superimmunity.

   2023 March 14, “Nanobodies against SARS-CoV-2 reduced virus load in the brain of challenged mice and neutralized Wuhan, Delta and Omicron Variants”, in National Library of Medicine

3. USuncountableThe process by which any organism's body develops immunity against a pathogen.

   Immunization via previous infection is not unusual among infectious diseases, but the degree and duration of such immunization varies by disease and depends on other factors as well (such as immunocapability and dietary sufficiency).