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Breakthrough Infection

By , About.com Guide

Created: September 30, 2006

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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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