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Breakthrough Infection

By Mark Cichocki, R.N., About.com

Created: September 30, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:
An infection, caused by the shedding of live virus from a vaccine. These infections may be caused by exposure to the infectious agent before the vaccine has taken effect, or before all doses of the vaccine have been given. For example, getting the chicken pox virus can cause a person to shed chicken pox virus and infect someone around them. In a weakened immune system, a person can get ill from any live virus vaccine.

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