What is a conjugate vaccine?
Quick Answer
A conjugate vaccine links a weak antigen to a stronger protein so the immune system responds better. It is especially useful for young children.
The Full Story
Some bacteria have sugary outer coats, called polysaccharides, that do not provoke a strong immune response in infants and toddlers. Conjugate vaccines solve this problem by chemically attaching that sugar to a protein carrier, which helps the immune system recognize and remember it much better. Important conjugate vaccines protect against Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcal disease. They have dramatically reduced severe bacterial infections in children worldwide. This design is one of the most important advances in modern vaccinology.
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