Many times the immunization or vaccination forms will list abbreviations or commonly used acronyms in place of the entire vaccine or formula. While this is easier and less time-consuming for the healthcare workers, at times the parents or child will not be able to figure out what they mean. The CDC has a listing of some common abbreviations on file.
DPT, DT, DTaP, DTP
These are all the abbreviations for the pediatric formula of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine. The DTaP is for the acellular pertussis vaccine and the others are for the whole-cell pertussis vaccine.
Td, Tdap
Td is the short form of the adult or adolescent formula of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine while the Tdap is for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine.
HAV, HBV, HepA, HepB
These are all abbreviations for Hepatitis. HAV is the Hepatitis A virus, while HBV is the Hepatitis B virus. HepA is the vaccine for Hepatitis A, HepB is the vaccine for Hepatitis B.
eIPV, IPV, OPV
the eIPV is the enhanced inactivated polio vaccine while the IPV is the inactivated poliovirus vaccine. OPV is not used in the United States any longer but was for the oral polio vaccine.
ROTA, RV1, RV5, PRV
ROTA is the old acronym for the rotavirus vaccine and has been replaced. RV1 is the monovalent rotavirus vaccine and RV5 is the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine. PRV stands for pentavalent rotavirus vaccine.
MCV, MR, MMR, MMRV
MCV is common for measles-containing vaccines. MR stands for the measles-rubella vaccine and MMR is for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. MMRV is the vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine.
PCV, PCV7, PCV13, PPV, PPV23, PPSV23
PCV is the old acronym for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7-valent) and was replaced by PCV7. PCV13 is for the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. PPV and PPV23 are old acronyms for 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and was replaced by PPSV23.
HPV, HPV2, HPV4
HPV is the human papillomavirus abbreviation. The HPV2 is the bivalent human papillomavirus vaccine while the HPV4 is the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine.
Knowing the abbreviations on a vaccination or immunization report can help you decipher what vaccines you’ve received and which you still need. More are listed on the CDC website.
Source: CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/vacc-abbrev.htm