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== Tuberculosis vaccines ==

'''Tuberculosis vaccines''' are vaccines intended for the prevention of [[tuberculosis]] (pronounced tu-ber-kyu-LO-sis), a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium ''[[Mycobacterium tuberculosis]]''. The etymology of the term "tuberculosis" comes from the Latin word "tuberculum" which means a small swelling or lump, referring to the tubercles seen in the tissues of those affected by the disease.

=== Types of Tuberculosis Vaccines ===

There are two main types of tuberculosis vaccines: the [[BCG vaccine]] and the [[M72/AS01E vaccine]].

The '''BCG vaccine''' (pronounced B-C-G), also known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, is the most widely used vaccine for tuberculosis worldwide. It is named after its developers, [[Albert Calmette]] and [[Camille Guérin]], who developed the vaccine in the 1920s.

The '''M72/AS01E vaccine''' is a newer vaccine that has shown promise in clinical trials. It is designed to boost the immune response in people who have already been vaccinated with the BCG vaccine.

=== Effectiveness ===

The effectiveness of tuberculosis vaccines varies. The BCG vaccine is effective at preventing severe forms of tuberculosis in children, but its effectiveness in adults is variable. The M72/AS01E vaccine has shown to be 50% effective in preventing active tuberculosis in adults who are already infected with ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis''.

=== Related Terms ===

* [[Immunization]]: The process by which a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine.
* [[Vaccine]]: A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
* [[Mycobacterium tuberculosis]]: The bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
* [[BCG vaccine]]: A vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis.
* [[M72/AS01E vaccine]]: A newer vaccine for tuberculosis.

[[Category:Medical Dictionary]]
[[Category:Tuberculosis]]
[[Category:Vaccines]]

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