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Table 1 Similarities and differences between vaccination and allergen-immunotherapy

From: The anti-vaccination movement and resistance to allergen-immunotherapy: a guide for clinical allergists

  

Vaccination

Allergen-Immunotherapy

Similarities

Clinical history

Over a century

Nearly a century

 

Therapeutics contains adjuvants and preservatives?

Yes, often

Yes, often

 

Synonyms: Medical and lay-public vernacular

   a) shots

   a) allergy shots

  

   b) vaccines

   b)allergen vaccines

  

   c) IMMUN ization

   c) IMMUN otherapy

 

Administration

Injection, occasional oral

Injection, occasional oral

 

Physiological target

Immune system

Immune system

Differences

Category of prevention

Primary

Tertiary

 

Active ingredient

Derivatives of infectious agent

Allergen mixture

 

Physiological response

Induce immune response

Alter/modify immune response

 

Length of treatment

Short, sometimes months

Lengthy, months to years

 

Number of injections

Often single; may require 'boosters'

Multiple injections

 

Tissue injected

Intra-muscular

Subcutaneous

 

Risk of anaphylaxis

Extremely low

Low, but significant

 

Treatment goal

Resistance/immunity to infection

Tolerance to allergen