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June 5, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"New Vaccine Development"
British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com) (06/01/02) Vol. 324, No. 7349, P. 1315; Poland, Gregory A.
Over the next decade-and-a-half, new developments in vaccine delivery technology and vaccines will completely alter the way doctors treat and prevent disease, with a major impact on public health. For example, new therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines will prevent and possibly cure disease by giving people the immunological tools they need to fight illnesses. Advances in adult acellular pertussis vaccines, nasal spray vaccines for the flu, and conjugated pneumococcal vaccines for adults will provide an effective way to produce protective immunity for people for several years. In addition, the development of vaccines against cocaine and nicotine dependence, as well as such non-infectious diseases as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer will provide alternative treatments. Advances in DNA vaccines are also expected to make it possible to develop vaccines against biological weapons. The creation of new vaccine delivery technology--such as oral, nasal, depot, and transcutaneous delivery--will make the delivery of vaccines easier without taking away from the efficacy of the drug. Research is also being conducted on vaccines to fight such diseases as tuberculosis, shigella, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, dengue, hookworm, and malaria, that ravage the Third World.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.