User blog comment:Zippertrain85/Vampires are NOT undead in TES/@comment-29458028-20140804103005

I agree that in Skyrim, vamps are pretty much alive, evidenced by the fact that they bleed, they reproduce, they eat and stuff. Also, their health regenerates if they are left alone, showing that cell division or it's magic equivalent continues to take place, at least at night. Which all seem very much living to me.

In fact, I think vampires still have their souls, which is why you need black gems to get those souls. Draugr only have white souls. This is something that can be considered, for only sentient things have black souls and undead are never sentient.