What Is a Live Virus Vaccine?

A live virus vaccine contains a weakened, live virus that is designed to help your body develop an immune response without you developing symptoms of the disease it is intended to prevent. Because these vaccines contain a small amount of a weakened live virus, they should not be given to patients with weakened immune systems, such as patients on high dose steroids or undergoing cancer chemotherapy treatment.

While most inactivated viruses require multiple doses, live virus vaccines often require only one or at least fewer doses (e.g. shingles vaccine, or the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine).

Common Live Virus Vaccines

• Intranasal Flu
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine
• Rotavirus Vaccine
• Varicella Virus Vaccine

_Sources:

_{National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Accessed September 25, 2009. Types of Vaccines}