What diseases do different vaccines fight against?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: September 28, 2025 • View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

Vaccines and the Diseases They Prevent

Each vaccine is designed to protect against specific diseases by stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight particular pathogens. Understanding what each vaccine targets is essential for proper immunization planning and disease prevention.

Common Vaccines and Their Target Diseases

Bacterial Vaccines

  • Pneumococcal vaccines (PCV13, PPSV23): Protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections 1
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap/DTaP):
    • Tetanus: Prevents lockjaw caused by Clostridium tetani
    • Diphtheria: Prevents respiratory illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae
    • Pertussis: Prevents whooping cough caused by Bordetella pertussis 1
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Prevents meningitis, pneumonia, and other serious infections caused by H. influenzae type b 2
  • Meningococcal vaccines: Protect against Neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningitis and septicemia 1
  • Tuberculosis (BCG): Protects against tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis 1
  • Anthrax vaccine: Protects against infection by Bacillus anthracis 1
  • Typhoid vaccine: Protects against Salmonella Typhi infection 1

Viral Vaccines

  • Influenza (flu) vaccine: Protects against seasonal influenza viruses 1
  • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR):
    • Measles: Prevents highly contagious respiratory disease
    • Mumps: Prevents salivary gland infection and potential complications
    • Rubella: Prevents "German measles" which can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy 1
  • Hepatitis B vaccine: Protects against hepatitis B virus infection which can lead to liver disease 1
  • Hepatitis A vaccine: Protects against hepatitis A virus infection 1
  • Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine: Protects against varicella-zoster virus 1
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: Protects against several HPV types that cause cervical cancer and genital warts 1
  • Polio vaccine: Protects against poliovirus which can cause paralysis 1
  • Rotavirus vaccine: Protects against severe diarrheal disease in infants and young children 1
  • Smallpox/Vaccinia vaccine: Historically used to eradicate smallpox; now primarily used for laboratory workers exposed to orthopoxviruses 1

Vaccine Types and Mechanisms

Vaccines work through different mechanisms depending on their design:

  1. Live-attenuated vaccines: Contain weakened forms of the living pathogen that can replicate but not cause disease

    • Examples: MMR, varicella, rotavirus 3
    • Contraindicated in immunocompromised patients 1

  2. Inactivated vaccines: Contain killed pathogens that cannot replicate

    • Examples: Inactivated influenza vaccine, hepatitis A 3
    • Generally safer for immunocompromised patients 1

  3. Subunit/recombinant vaccines: Contain specific parts of the pathogen

    • Examples: Hepatitis B, HPV, acellular pertussis 3

  4. Toxoid vaccines: Contain inactivated toxins produced by bacteria

    • Examples: Tetanus, diphtheria 4

  5. Conjugate vaccines: Link bacterial polysaccharides to proteins to improve immune response

    • Examples: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), Hib, meningococcal conjugate vaccines 1

Special Considerations

Immunocompromised Patients

  • Live vaccines are generally contraindicated in severely immunocompromised patients 1
  • Inactivated vaccines are usually safe but may have reduced effectiveness 1
  • Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases may need modified vaccination schedules 1

Healthcare Workers

  • Healthcare workers should receive hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, Tdap, and varicella vaccines due to their increased risk of exposure and potential to transmit to patients 1

Emerging Vaccine Technologies

Modern vaccine development has expanded beyond traditional approaches:

  • Structure-based vaccines: Designed based on specific protective epitopes rather than whole pathogens 4
  • mRNA vaccines: Deliver genetic instructions for cells to produce antigenic proteins
  • Viral vector vaccines: Use modified viruses to deliver genetic material from the target pathogen

Public Health Impact

Vaccines have dramatically reduced the burden of infectious diseases worldwide. They work through two key mechanisms:

  1. Inducing long-lasting immunity in individuals
  2. Creating herd immunity that protects populations 5

The development of new vaccines against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is becoming increasingly important in the fight against antimicrobial resistance 2.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

5
Research

Vaccination against the major infectious diseases.

Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie, 1999

Related Questions

What are vaccines for?
Is a half dose of a vaccine (vaccination) effective?
Are all vaccines necessary or can some be skipped?
What is the role of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases?
What are the benefits of getting vaccinated when not sick?
What preparation is needed for rectal and pharyngeal sample collection, such as bowel movement restrictions, fasting, or mouth rinsing?
What is the recommended approach for treating tension headaches with Fiorecet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine)?
How to resume Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
What is the accuracy of Apache (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) scoring in predicting mortality in critical care units?
What preparation is needed for rectal swab and oral pharyngeal swab collection for Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing?

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.

Ask Question