live vaccines

Last reviewed 01/2018

Live vaccines consist of viable micro-organisms of attenuated virulence. The replication of these organisms within the body, provides a powerful stimulus to the immune system, without causing a significant illness in immune-competent individuals. Effective immunity therefore often follows a single dose.

Live, attenuated vaccines licensed in the UK include prior to 2013:

• measles, mumps and rubella
• BCG
• poliomyelitis - oral Sabin vaccine
• yellow fever

Oral typohid is a live vaccine but only available in the US and Australia.

Previously the list of live vaccines in the UK was usefully remembered with mnemonic MMR BOY, where the O stands for oral polio.

However now other live vaccines are used in the UK:

• herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
• live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine - Fluenz

Reference:

• Levin MJ et al.Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;197(6):825-35
• Immunisation Against Infectious Disease - "The Green Book". Chapter 19. Influenza (September 2013)