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Which of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines?
The annual flu season is a dreaded event for many, prompting a rush to get vaccinated. But have you ever stopped to consider the incredible technological advancements that have made these vaccines safer and more effective? This post delves into the key technological breakthroughs that have revolutionized flu vaccine production and efficacy, answering the burning question: which technologies have truly improved flu vaccines? We'll explore the science behind these improvements, examining their impact on vaccine development, production, and ultimately, our protection against influenza.
1. Reverse Genetics: Designing Better Vaccines from Scratch
Before reverse genetics, scientists relied heavily on isolating and growing flu viruses in chicken eggs. This process was time-consuming, inefficient, and limited the types of flu strains that could be included in vaccines. Reverse genetics changed everything. This technology allows scientists to synthesize the virus's genetic material in vitro, essentially creating the flu virus from a blueprint. This offers several significant advantages:
Faster Production: Creating the virus directly eliminates the lengthy egg-based growth phase, dramatically speeding up vaccine production.
Increased Flexibility: Reverse genetics allows the creation of viruses with specific mutations, enabling the development of vaccines targeting specific strains or even entirely new subtypes of influenza.
Enhanced Safety: The ability to manipulate the virus's genome allows researchers to design attenuated (weakened) versions, minimizing the risk of adverse effects, particularly in vulnerable populations.
2. Cell-Based Production: Moving Beyond the Egg
The traditional use of chicken eggs for vaccine production presented several limitations. Allergies to eggs, the potential for egg contamination, and the slow growth rate of some flu strains all hampered vaccine efficiency. Cell-based production offers a superior alternative:
Elimination of Egg Allergies: Growing the virus in mammalian or insect cells eliminates the risk of egg-based allergic reactions, broadening vaccine accessibility.
Increased Production Capacity: Cell-based systems can produce significantly larger quantities of vaccine in a shorter timeframe compared to egg-based methods.
Improved Strain Adaptability: A wider range of flu strains can be successfully cultivated in cell-based systems, leading to more comprehensive and effective vaccines.
3. Adjuvants: Boosting the Immune Response
Adjuvants are substances added to vaccines to enhance their effectiveness. They act by stimulating the immune system, leading to a stronger and more sustained antibody response:
Improved Immunogenicity: Adjuvants amplify the immune response, resulting in higher antibody levels and longer-lasting protection. This is particularly important for elderly individuals and those with weakened immune systems.
Reduced Dose Requirements: By boosting the immune response, adjuvants allow for the use of smaller vaccine doses, potentially reducing side effects.
Targeted Immunity: Some adjuvants are designed to specifically target certain immune cells, leading to a more focused and effective immune response.
4. High-Throughput Screening and Bioinformatics: Accelerating Vaccine Development
The development of high-throughput screening technologies and advanced bioinformatics tools has revolutionized vaccine research:
Rapid Identification of Potential Vaccine Candidates: High-throughput screening allows researchers to rapidly test thousands of potential vaccine candidates, accelerating the identification of promising options.
Improved Vaccine Design: Bioinformatics enables the analysis of vast amounts of genomic data, providing insights into the virus's structure and evolution, leading to better-designed vaccines.
Predictive Modeling: Computational models can predict the effectiveness of different vaccine candidates, optimizing the design and development process.
Conclusion:
The advancements in reverse genetics, cell-based production, adjuvant technology, and high-throughput screening have all significantly improved flu vaccines. These technological leaps have led to faster production, enhanced safety, increased efficacy, and broadened accessibility, ultimately providing better protection against influenza for a wider population. The continuous development and refinement of these technologies promise even more effective and safer flu vaccines in the years to come.
FAQs
1. Are flu vaccines completely effective? No, flu vaccines aren't 100% effective, but they significantly reduce your risk of getting the flu and lessen the severity of symptoms if you do get it.
2. Why do I need a flu shot every year? The flu virus constantly mutates, so the vaccine needs to be updated annually to match the circulating strains.
3. What are the side effects of flu vaccines? Common side effects are mild and include soreness at the injection site, fever, and muscle aches. Severe reactions are rare.
4. Who should get a flu vaccine? The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for most people six months and older. Certain individuals, such as pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions, are at higher risk and should definitely get vaccinated.
5. How long does it take for the flu vaccine to become effective? It typically takes about two weeks for the body to build up immunity after receiving the vaccine.
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine Marianne Legato J, 2009-10-29 The field of gender-specific medicine examines how normal human biology and physiology differ between men and women and how the diagnosis and treatment of disease differs as a function of gender. This revealing research covers various conditions that predominantly occur in men as well conditions that predominantly occur in women. Among the areas of greatest difference are cardiovascular disease, mood disorders, the immune system, lung cancer as a consequence of smoking, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and infectious diseases. The Second Edition of Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine focuses on the essentials of gender-specific medicine and the current study of sex and gender differences in human physiology and pathophysiology. New section editors, new chapter authors, and new chapters have been added to reflect the most up-to-date clinical research and practice. - Offers insight into how the gender-specific risks of one organ system's disease affects the health of other organ systems - Outlines the sex-specific differences of normal anatomy and physiology - Illustrates the gender-specific features and quantifies gender and sex as risk factors across all major diseases - Qualifies and analyzes the results of new drug therapies designed with gender-specific differences in mind: ex, hormone therapy in men and women for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease - All chapters progress translationally from the basic science to the clinical applications of gender-specific therapies, drugs, or treatments - Sections on drug metabolism, aging, and meta-analysis of data incorporated into all disease-specific chapters |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 6) King K. Holmes, Stefano Bertozzi, Barry R. Bloom, Prabhat Jha, 2017-11-06 Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan Institute of Medicine, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on Review of Priorities in the National Vaccine Plan, 2010-05-17 Vaccination is a fundamental component of preventive medicine and public health. The use of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases has resulted in dramatic decreases in disease, disability, and death in the United States and around the world. The current political, economic, and social environment presents both opportunities for and challenges to strengthening the U.S. system for developing, manufacturing, regulating, distributing, funding, and administering safe and effective vaccines for all people. Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan examines the extraordinarily complex vaccine enterprise, from research and development of new vaccines to financing and reimbursement of immunization services. Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan examines the extraordinarily complex vaccine enterprise, from research and development of new vaccines to financing and reimbursement of immunization services. The book makes recommendations about priority actions in the update to the National Vaccine Plan that are intended to achieve the objectives of disease prevention and enhancement of vaccine safety. It is centered on the plan's five goals in the areas of vaccine development, safety, communication, supply and use, and global health. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Great Influenza John M. Barry, 2005-10-04 #1 New York Times bestseller “Barry will teach you almost everything you need to know about one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history.”—Bill Gates Monumental... an authoritative and disturbing morality tale.—Chicago Tribune The strongest weapon against pandemic is the truth. Read why in the definitive account of the 1918 Flu Epidemic. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, The Great Influenza provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon. As Barry concludes, The final lesson of 1918, a simple one yet one most difficult to execute, is that...those in authority must retain the public's trust. The way to do that is to distort nothing, to put the best face on nothing, to try to manipulate no one. Lincoln said that first, and best. A leader must make whatever horror exists concrete. Only then will people be able to break it apart. At the height of World War I, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: What You Need to Know about Infectious Disease Madeline Drexler, |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical and Behavioral Research National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Commission on Life Sciences, Committee on the Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1988-02-01 Scientific experiments using animals have contributed significantly to the improvement of human health. Animal experiments were crucial to the conquest of polio, for example, and they will undoubtedly be one of the keystones in AIDS research. However, some persons believe that the cost to the animals is often high. Authored by a committee of experts from various fields, this book discusses the benefits that have resulted from animal research, the scope of animal research today, the concerns of advocates of animal welfare, and the prospects for finding alternatives to animal use. The authors conclude with specific recommendations for more consistent government action. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Emerging Viral Diseases Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2015-03-19 In the past half century, deadly disease outbreaks caused by novel viruses of animal origin - Nipah virus in Malaysia, Hendra virus in Australia, Hantavirus in the United States, Ebola virus in Africa, along with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), several influenza subtypes, and the SARS (sudden acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronaviruses - have underscored the urgency of understanding factors influencing viral disease emergence and spread. Emerging Viral Diseases is the summary of a public workshop hosted in March 2014 to examine factors driving the appearance, establishment, and spread of emerging, re-emerging and novel viral diseases; the global health and economic impacts of recently emerging and novel viral diseases in humans; and the scientific and policy approaches to improving domestic and international capacity to detect and respond to global outbreaks of infectious disease. This report is a record of the presentations and discussion of the event. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Vaccine Design Sunil Thomas, 2016 |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Board on Global Health, Board on Life Sciences, Policy and Global Affairs, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2013-04-04 When, in late 2011, it became public knowledge that two research groups had submitted for publication manuscripts that reported on their work on mammalian transmissibility of a lethal H5N1 avian influenza strain, the information caused an international debate about the appropriateness and communication of the researchers' work, the risks associated with the work, partial or complete censorship of scientific publications, and dual-use research of concern in general. Recognizing that the H5N1 research is only the most recent scientific activity subject to widespread attention due to safety and security concerns, on May 1, 2012, the National Research Council's Committee on Science, Technology and Law, in conjunction with the Board on Life Sciences and the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats, convened a one-day public workshop for the purposes of 1) discussing the H5N1 controversy; 2) considering responses by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which had funded this research, the World Health Organization, the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), scientific publishers, and members of the international research community; and 3) providing a forum wherein the concerns and interests of the broader community of stakeholders, including policy makers, biosafety and biosecurity experts, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the general public might be articulated. Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza: Scientific Enquiry, Communication, Controversy summarizes the proceedings of the workshop. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Immunopotentiators in Modern Vaccines Virgil Schijns, Derek O'Hagan, 2005-12-19 Immunopotentiators in Modern Vaccines provides an in-depth insight and overview of a number of most promising immunopotentiators in modern vaccines. In contrast to existing books on the subject it provides recent data on the critical mechanisms governing the activity of vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems. Knowledge of immunological pathways and scenarios of the cells and molecules involved is described and depicted in comprehensive illustrations. - Contributions from leading international authorities in the field - Well-illustrated, informative figures present the interactions between immunopotentiators and the host immune system - Each chapter lists advantages and potential hurdles for achieving a practical application for the specific immunopentiator |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Healthy lives, healthy people Great Britain: Department of Health, 2010-11-30 The Government recognises that many lifestyle-driven health problems are at alarming levels: obesity; high rates of sexually transmitted infections; a relatively large population of drug users; rising levels of harm from alcohol; 80,000 deaths a year from smoking; poor mental health; health inequalities between rich and poor. This white paper outlines the Government's proposals to protect the population from serious health threats; help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives; and improve the health of the poorest. It aims to empower individuals to make healthy choices and give communities and local government the freedom, responsibility and funding to innovate and develop ways of improving public health in their area. The paper responds to Sir Michael Marmot's strategic review of health inequalities in England post 2010 - Fair society, healthy lives (available at http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/pdfs/Reports/FairSocietyHealthyLives.pdf) and adopts its life course framework for tackling the wider social determinants of health. A new dedicated public health service - Public Health England - will be created to ensure excellence, expertise and responsiveness, particularly on health protection where a national response is vital. The paper gives a timetable showing how the proposals will be implemented and an annex sets out a vision of the role of the Director of Public Health. The Department is also publishing a fuller story on the health of England in Our health and wellbeing today (http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_122238.pdf), detailing the challenges and opportunities, and in 2011 will issue documents on major public health issues. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of the Life Sciences National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Policy and Global Affairs, Development, Security, and Cooperation, Committee on Advances in Technology and the Prevention of Their Application to Next Generation Biowarfare Threats, 2006-06-07 Biomedical advances have made it possible to identify and manipulate features of living organisms in useful ways-leading to improvements in public health, agriculture, and other areas. The globalization of scientific and technical expertise also means that many scientists and other individuals around the world are generating breakthroughs in the life sciences and related technologies. The risks posed by bioterrorism and the proliferation of biological weapons capabilities have increased concern about how the rapid advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology could enable the production of biological weapons with unique and unpredictable characteristics. Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of Life Sciences examines current trends and future objectives of research in public health, life sciences, and biomedical science that contain applications relevant to developments in biological weapons 5 to 10 years into the future and ways to anticipate, identify, and mitigate these dangers. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Affordable Excellence William A. Haseltine, 2013 Today Singapore ranks sixth in the world in healthcare outcomes well ahead of many developed countries, including the United States. The results are all the more significant as Singapore spends less on healthcare than any other high-income country, both as measured by fraction of the Gross Domestic Product spent on health and by costs per person. Singapore achieves these results at less than one-fourth the cost of healthcare in the United States and about half that of Western European countries. Government leaders, presidents and prime ministers, finance ministers and ministers of health, policymakers in congress and parliament, public health officials responsible for healthcare systems planning, finance and operations, as well as those working on healthcare issues in universities and think-tanks should know how this system works to achieve affordable excellence.--Publisher's website. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Opportunities in Biotechnology for Future Army Applications National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Board on Army Science and Technology, Committee on Opportunities in Biotechnology for Future Army Applications, 2001-07-11 This report surveys opportunities for future Army applications in biotechnology, including sensors, electronics and computers, materials, logistics, and medical therapeutics, by matching commercial trends and developments with enduring Army requirements. Several biotechnology areas are identified as important for the Army to exploit, either by direct funding of research or by indirect influence of commercial sources, to achieve significant gains in combat effectiveness before 2025. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Communicating Risks and Benefits Baruch Fischhoff, 2012-03-08 Effective risk communication is essential to the well-being of any organization and those people who depend on it. Ineffective communication can cost lives, money and reputations. Communicating Risks and Benefits: An Evidence-Based User’s Guide provides the scientific foundations for effective communications. The book authoritatively summarizes the relevant research, draws out its implications for communication design, and provides practical ways to evaluate and improve communications for any decision involving risks and benefits. Topics include the communication of quantitative information and warnings, the roles of emotion and the news media, the effects of age and literacy, and tests of how well communications meet the organization’s goals. The guide will help users in any organization, with any budget, to make the science of their communications as sound as the science that they are communicating. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Modeling the Interplay Between Human Behavior and the Spread of Infectious Diseases Piero Manfredi, Alberto D'Onofrio, 2013-01-04 This volume summarizes the state-of-the-art in the fast growing research area of modeling the influence of information-driven human behavior on the spread and control of infectious diseases. In particular, it features the two main and inter-related “core” topics: behavioral changes in response to global threats, for example, pandemic influenza, and the pseudo-rational opposition to vaccines. In order to make realistic predictions, modelers need to go beyond classical mathematical epidemiology to take these dynamic effects into account. With contributions from experts in this field, the book fills a void in the literature. It goes beyond classical texts, yet preserves the rationale of many of them by sticking to the underlying biology without compromising on scientific rigor. Epidemiologists, theoretical biologists, biophysicists, applied mathematicians, and PhD students will benefit from this book. However, it is also written for Public Health professionals interested in understanding models, and to advanced undergraduate students, since it only requires a working knowledge of mathematical epidemiology. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Pandemic Century Mark Honigsbaum, 2019-03-09 Like sharks, epidemic diseases always lurk just beneath the surface. This fast-paced history of their effect on mankind prompts questions about the limits of scientific knowledge, the dangers of medical hubris, and how we should prepare as epidemics become ever more frequent. Ever since the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, scientists have dreamed of preventing catastrophic outbreaks of infectious disease. Yet, despite a century of medical progress, viral and bacterial disasters continue to take us by surprise, inciting panic and dominating news cycles. From the Spanish flu and the 1924 outbreak of pneumonic plague in Los Angeles to the 1930 'parrot fever' pandemic and the more recent SARS, Ebola, and Zika epidemics, the last 100 years have been marked by a succession of unanticipated pandemic alarms. Like man-eating sharks, predatory pathogens are always present in nature, waiting to strike; when one is seemingly vanquished, others appear in its place. These pandemics remind us of the limits of scientific knowledge, as well as the role that human behaviour and technologies play in the emergence and spread of microbial diseases. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Managing epidemics: key facts about major deadly diseases World Health Organization, 2023-11-14 Epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases are occurring more often, and spreading faster and further than ever, in many different regions of the world. The background factors of this threat are biological, environmental and lifestyle changes, among others. A potentially fatal combination of newly-discovered diseases, and the re-emergence of many long-established ones, demands urgent responses in all countries. Planning and preparation for epidemic prevention and control are essential. The purpose of the Managing epidemics handbook is to provide expert guidance on those response. Building on the first edition, the second edition provides concise and basic up-to-date knowledge with which World Health Organization country representatives can advise Ministries of Health to respond effectively and rapidly at the very start of an outbreak. Part I of the handbook provides insights on epidemics of the 21st century and offers context on the upsurge of recent epidemics. Part II has been updated and offers 10 key facts about 19 deadly diseases including tips on the interventions required to respond. Part III presents various Tool boxes that summarize guidance on several important topics. The handbook focuses on practical and indispensable things to know about infectious diseases that are most important for national, political and operational decision-makers; it also links readers to more exhaustive WHO guidance. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Microbial Forensics Bruce Budowle, Steven E. Schutzer, Roger G. Breeze, Paul S. Keim, Stephen A. Morse, 2010-10-27 Microbial Forensics is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline. In the last decade, and particularly due to the anthrax letter attacks in the United States, microbial forensics has become more formalized and has played an increasingly greater role in crime investigations. This has brought renewed interest, development and application of new technologies, and new rules of forensic and policy engagement. It has many applications ranging from biodefense, criminal investigations, providing intelligence information, making society more secure, and helping protect precious resources, particularly human life. A combination of diverse areas is investigated, including the major disciplines of biology, microbiology, medicine, chemistry, physics, statistics, population genetics, and computer science. Microbial Forensics, Second Edition is fully revised and updated and serves as a complete reference of the discipline. It describes the advances, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead, and will be integral in applying science to help solve future biocrimes. - A collection of microbiology, virology, toxicology and mycology as it relates to forensics, in one reference - New and expanded content to include statistical analysis of forensic data and legal admissibility and the standards of evidence, to name a few - Includes research information and application of that research to crime scene analysis, which will allow practitioners to understand and apply the knowledge to their practice with ease |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Influenza Gabriele Neumann (Professor at the Influenza Research Institute), Yoshihiro Kawaoka, 2020 Influenza is a serious disease that affects millions worldwide every year. This book discusses cutting edge research on the viruses that cause the disease, its effects on the host, and current vaccine design strategies-- |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: History of Vaccine Development Stanley A. Plotkin, 2011-05-11 Vaccinology, the concept of a science ranging from the study of immunology to the development and distribution of vaccines, was a word invented by Jonas Salk. This book covers the history of the methodological progress in vaccine development and to the social and ethical issues raised by vaccination. Chapters include Jenner and the Vaccination against Smallpox, Viral Vaccines, and Ethical and Social Aspects of vaccines. Contributing authors include pioneers in the field, such as Samuel L. Katz and Hilary Koprowski. This history of vaccines is relatively short and many of its protagonists are still alive. This book was written by some of the chief actors in the drama whose subject matter is the conquest of epidemic disease. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Treatment of Influenza A and B Infections , 1999 |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Development of Novel Vaccines Alexander von Gabain, Christoph Klade, 2012-04-23 “Development of novel vaccines” gives an overview of the tasks in basic research leading to the final product – the vaccine and its applications, belonging to the most complex biologics in the pharmaceutical field. Distinct from most textbooks in the vaccine arena, the current issue focuses on the translational aspect, namely, how research results can be transformed into life-saving medical interventions. Each chapter of the book deals with one important paradigm for the development of novel vaccines, along the value chain towards the final vaccine, and furthermore, with the inevitable tools required for this process. Contributions are prepared by teams of scientists, all of whom are experts in the field, most of them anchored in biomedical organizations devoted to translational culture, thereby lighting the certain topics from different views. This volume is a must read for researchers engaged in vaccine development and who really want to see their research results to become a product. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: How to Prevent the Next Pandemic Bill Gates, 2022-05-03 The COVID-19 pandemic isn't over, but even as governments around the world strive to put it behind us, they're also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent a new pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even hope to accomplish this? Bill Gates believes the answer is yes, and in this book he lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should have learned from COVID-19 and what all of us can do to ward off another disaster like it. Relying on the shared knowledge of the world's foremost experts and on his own experience of combating fatal diseases through the Gates Foundation, he first makes us understand the science of corona diseases. Then he helps us understand how the nations of the world, working in conjunction with one another and with the private sector, can not only ward off another COVID-like catastrophe but also go far to eliminate all respiratory diseases, including the flu. Here is a clarion call - strong, comprehensive, and of the gravest importance - from one of our greatest and most effective thinkers and activists. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Extra Life Steven Johnson, 2021-05-11 “Offers a useful reminder of the role of modern science in fundamentally transforming all of our lives.” —President Barack Obama (on Twitter) “An important book.” —Steven Pinker, The New York Times Book Review The surprising and important story of how humans gained what amounts to an extra life, from the bestselling author of How We Got to Now and Where Good Ideas Come From In 1920, at the end of the last major pandemic, global life expectancy was just over forty years. Today, in many parts of the world, human beings can expect to live more than eighty years. As a species we have doubled our life expectancy in just one century. There are few measures of human progress more astonishing than this increased longevity. Extra Life is Steven Johnson’s attempt to understand where that progress came from, telling the epic story of one of humanity’s greatest achievements. How many of those extra years came from vaccines, or the decrease in famines, or seatbelts? What are the forces that now keep us alive longer? Behind each breakthrough lies an inspiring story of cooperative innovation, of brilliant thinkers bolstered by strong systems of public support and collaborative networks, and of dedicated activists fighting for meaningful reform. But for all its focus on positive change, this book is also a reminder that meaningful gaps in life expectancy still exist, and that new threats loom on the horizon, as the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear. How do we avoid decreases in life expectancy as our public health systems face unprecedented challenges? What current technologies or interventions that could reduce the impact of future crises are we somehow ignoring? A study in how meaningful change happens in society, Extra Life celebrates the enduring power of common goals and public resources, and the heroes of public health and medicine too often ignored in popular accounts of our history. This is the sweeping story of a revolution with immense public and personal consequences: the doubling of the human life span. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Vaccines: A Biography Andrew W. Artenstein, 2009-12-11 Why another book about vaccines? There are already a few extremely well-written medical textbooks that provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art technical reviews regarding vaccine science. Additionally, in the past decade alone, a number of engrossing, provocative books have been published on various related issues ra- ing from vaccines against specific diseases to vaccine safety and policy. Yet there remains a significant gap in the literature – the history of vaccines. Vaccines: A Biography seeks to fill a void in the extant literature by focusing on the history of vaccines and in so doing, recounts the social, cultural, and scientific history of vaccines; it places them within their natural, historical context. The book traces the lineage – the “biography” – of individual vaccines, originating with deeply rooted medical problems and evolving to an eventual conclusion. Nonetheless, these are not “biographies” in the traditional sense; they do not trace an individual’s growth and development. Instead, they follow an idea as it is conceived and dev- oped, through the contributions of many. These are epic stories of discovery, of risk-takers, of individuals advancing medical science, in the words of the famous physical scientist Isaac Newton, “by standing on the shoulders of giants. ” One grant reviewer described the book’s concept as “triumphalist”; although meant as an indictment, this is only partially inaccurate. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Threat of Pandemic Influenza Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2005-04-09 Public health officials and organizations around the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. Moreover, recent problems with the availability and strain-specificity of vaccine for annual flu epidemics in some countries and the rise of pandemic strains of avian flu in disparate geographic regions have alarmed experts about the world's ability to prevent or contain a human pandemic. The workshop summary, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu. It also looks at gaps in readiness, including hospitals' inability to absorb a surge of patients and many nations' incapacity to monitor and detect flu outbreaks. The report points to the need for international agreements to share flu vaccine and antiviral stockpiles to ensure that the 88 percent of nations that cannot manufacture or stockpile these products have access to them. It chronicles the toll of the H5N1 strain of avian flu currently circulating among poultry in many parts of Asia, which now accounts for the culling of millions of birds and the death of at least 50 persons. And it compares the costs of preparations with the costs of illness and death that could arise during an outbreak. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Making Markets for Vaccines Owen Barder, Alice Albright, Michael Kremer, Ruth Levine, 2005 A legacy of our generation -- Ch. 1. We need to invest more in vaccines -- Ch. 2. Promoting private investment in vaccine development -- Ch. 3. A market not a prize -- Ch. 4. Design choices -- Ch. 5. $3 billion per disease -- Ch. 6. Meeting industry requirements -- Ch. 7. How sponsors can do it. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Global Technology Revolution 2020, In-Depth Analyses: Bio/Nano/Materials/Information Trends, Drivers, Barriers, and Social Implications Richard Silberglitt, Philip S. Anton, David R. Howell, Anny Wong, Natalie Gassman, 2002-08-30 In 2020, areas of particular importance for technology trends will include biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials technology, and information technology. This report, the companion document to The Global Technology Revolution 2020, Executive Summary (Silberglitt et al., MG-475-NIC, 2006), assesses in detail a sample of 29 countries with respect to their ability to acquire and implement 16 key technology applications. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Caring for People who Sniff Petrol Or Other Volatile Substances National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), 2011 These guidelines provide recommendations that outline the critical aspects of infection prevention and control. The recommendations were developed using the best available evidence and consensus methods by the Infection Control Steering Committee. They have been prioritised as key areas to prevent and control infection in a healthcare facility. It is recognised that the level of risk may differ according to the different types of facility and therefore some recommendations should be justified by risk assessment. When implementing these recommendations all healthcare facilities need to consider the risk of transmission of infection and implement according to their specific setting and circumstances. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: World Agriculture Jelle Bruinsma, 2003 First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Future of Public Health Committee for the Study of the Future of Public Health, Division of Health Care Services, Institute of Medicine, 1988-01-15 The Nation has lost sight of its public health goals and has allowed the system of public health to fall into 'disarray', from The Future of Public Health. This startling book contains proposals for ensuring that public health service programs are efficient and effective enough to deal not only with the topics of today, but also with those of tomorrow. In addition, the authors make recommendations for core functions in public health assessment, policy development, and service assurances, and identify the level of government--federal, state, and local--at which these functions would best be handled. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Emerging and Readily Available Technologies and National Security National Academy of Engineering, National Research Council, Center for Engineering, Ethics, and Society Advisory Group, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Board on Life Sciences, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Committee on Ethical and Societal Implications of Advances in Militarily Significant Technologies That Are Rapidly Changing and Increasingly Globally Accessible, 2014-05-29 The summary version of Emerging and Readily Available Technologies and National Security distills the findings and recommendations of the complete report into a a booklet format. The full report is available here. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Priorities in Health , 2006-01-01 This companion guide to Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition speeds the diffusion of life-saving knowledge by distilling the contents of the larger volume into an easily read format. Policy makers, practitioners, academics, and other interested readers will get an overview of the messages and analysis in Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition; be alerted to the scope of major diseases; learn strategies to improve policies and choices to implement cost-effective interventions; and locate chapters of immediate interest. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: IAP Guidebook on Immunization 2018-2019 Balasubramanian S, Digant D Shastri, Pallab Chatterjee, Abhay K Shah, Harish K Pemde, Shivananda S, Vijay Kumar Guduru, 2019-11-28 |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Avian Influenza in Human Chen Qiu, Yu-xin Shi, Pu-xuan Lu, 2022-06-16 Some avian influenza viruses can infect humans, cause disease, and even result in deaths. This book comprehensively and systematically presents the theory, diagnosis and clinical treatment of typical avian influenza viruses in human. The first chapters introduce the ethiology, epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment of human avian influenza and complications. The following chapters include overview, extensive images, differential diagnosis and clinical cases of H7N9, H5N1, H5N6, H10N8, H9N2 and H7N4 avian influenza. Written by practitioners directly involved in the prevention and clinical treatment of human avian influenza, it will be an invaluable aid for practitioners in centers for infectious disease control and prevention, hospitals, and academic institutions to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of avian influenza in human. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Ecology of a City and Its People Stephen Vickers Boyden, 1981 The past - ecological background; Ecological perspectives; Land, nature and people; Life conditions and biopsychic state in early Hong Kong; The present - Hong Kong in the 1970s; Conceptual framework; Modern Hong Kong - an overview; Extrasomatic energy; Energy in the Hong Kong food system; Nutrients and water supply in Hong Kong; The built environment and transportation; The population; Material aspects of human experience; Social relationships and some important intangibles; Behavioural aspects of human experience; Environment, life style and health: problems and principles; The future - human ecological imperatives; The future of urban settlements; Life conditions check list; Common behavioural tendencies; Biosocial survey. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Vaccinated Paul A. Offit, M.D., 2022-02-01 Vaccines save millions of lives every year, and one man, Maurice Hilleman, was responsible for nine of the big fourteen. Paul Offit recounts his story and the story of vaccines Maurice Hilleman discovered nine vaccines that practically every child gets, rendering formerly dread diseases—including often devastating ones such as mumps and rubella—practically forgotten. Paul A. Offit, a vaccine researcher himself, befriended Hilleman and, during the great man’s last months, interviewed him extensively about his life and career. Offit makes an eloquent and compelling case for Hilleman’s importance, arguing that, like Jonas Salk, his name should be known to everyone. But Vaccinated is also enriched and enlivened by a look at vaccines in the context of modern medical science and history, ranging across the globe and throughout time to take in a fascinating cast of hundreds, providing a vital contribution to the continuing debate over the value of vaccines. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: The Canadian Encyclopedia James H. Marsh, 1999 This edition of The Canadian Encyclopedia is the largest, most comprehensive book ever published in Canada for the general reader. It is COMPLETE: every aspect of Canada, from its rock formations to its rock bands, is represented here. It is UNABRIDGED: all of the information in the four red volumes of the famous 1988 edition is contained here in this single volume. It has been EXPANDED: since 1988 teams of researchers have been diligently fleshing out old entries and recording new ones; as a result, the text from 1988 has grown by 50% to over 4,000,000 words. It has been UPDATED: the researchers and contributors worked hard to make the information as current as possible. Other words apply to this extraordinary work of scholarship: AUTHORITATIVE, RELIABLE and READABLE. Every entry is compiled by an expert. Equally important, every entry is written for a Canadian reader, from the Canadian point of view. The finished work - many years in the making, and the equivalent of forty average-sized books - is an extraordinary storehouse of information about our country. This book deserves pride of place on the bookshelf in every Canadian Home. It is no accident that the cover of this book is based on the Canadian flag. For the proud truth is that this volume represents a great national achievement. From its formal inception in 1979, this encyclopedia has always represented a vote of faith in Canada; in Canada as a separate place whose natural worlds and whose peoples and their achievements deserve to be recorded and celebrated. At the start of a new century and a new millennium, in an increasingly borderless corporate world that seems ever more hostile to nationaldistinctions and aspirations, this Canadian Encyclopedia is offered in a spirit of defiance and of faith in our future. The statistics behind this volume are staggering. The opening sixty pages list the 250 Consultants, the roughly 4,000 Contributors (all experts in the field they describe) and the scores of researchers, editors, typesetters, proofreaders and others who contributed their skills to this massive project. The 2,640 pages incorporate over 10,000 articles and over 4,000,000 words, making it the largest - some might say the greatest - Canadian book ever published. There are, of course, many special features. These include a map of Canada, a special page comparing the key statistics of the 23 major Canadian cities, maps of our cities, a variety of tables and photographs, and finely detailed illustrations of our wildlife, not to mention the colourful, informative endpapers. But above all the book is encyclopedic - which the Canadian Oxford Dictionary describes as embracing all branches of learning. This means that (with rare exceptions) there is satisfaction for the reader who seeks information on any Canadian subject. From the first entry A mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea (which is Canada's motto, and a good description of this volume's range) to the Zouaves (who mustered in Quebec to fight for the beleaguered Papacy) there is the required summary of information, clearly and accurately presented. For the browser the constant variety of entries and the lure of regular cross-references will provide hours of fasination. The word encyclopedia derives from Greek expressions alluding to a grand circle of knowledge. Our knowledge has expandedimmeasurably since the time that one mnd could encompass all that was known.Yet now Canada's finest scientists, academics and specialists have distilled their knowledge of our country between the covers of one volume. The result is a book for every Canadian who values learning, and values Canada. |
| which of these technological advances has improved flu vaccines: Influenza Virus Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Gabriele Neumann, 2016-08-23 Reports of influenza-like illnesses date back to the Middle Ages, and outbreaks of influenza likely afflicted humans long before that. Over the last half century, influenza virus research has led to the development of two classes of antivirals – ion channel and neuraminidase inhibitors. Recently, a method of the artificial generation of an influenza virus was established. This system has been instrumental in the development of novel influenza vaccines and in the understanding of viral pathogenicity and the functions of viral proteins. Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols summarizes the current techniques that have made this progress possible, ranging from protocols for virus isolation, growth, and subtyping to procedures for the efficient generation of any influenza virus. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with the techniques used in numerous laboratories around the world that are, thus, the building blocks that underpin almost all influenza virus research. |
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex Gene Vaccines Josef Thalhamer,Richard Weiss,Sandra Scheiblhofer,2011-08-31 The induction of antigen specific …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
question: which technologies have truly improved flu vaccines? We'll explore the science behind these improvements, examining their impact on vaccine development, production, and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
The improvements in flu vaccines over the years are a testament to scientific innovation and technological advancement. From cell-based manufacturing and reverse genetics to improved …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
technologies has significantly improved the efficacy of flu vaccines, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly. The Role of Adjuvants Stronger Immune Response: Adjuvants …
Next-generation influenza vaccines: opportunities and …
Improved understanding of influenza antigen structure and immunobiology is advancing novel vaccine candidates into human trials. Influenza. a contagious respiratory disease caused by...
Recommendations on Strategies to Achieve the Healthy …
new and improved influenza vaccines and vaccine technologies including support for research, development, and licensure of influenza vaccines with improved effectiveness and duration of …
An mRNA Influenza Vaccine — Could It Deliver? - The New …
A study by Arevalo and colleagues suggests that an mRNA vaccine against influenza is feasi-ble (Fig. 1).3 They designed a multivalent mRNA-based formulation incorporating the 20 known …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Katarzyna Stadnicka,Aleksandra Dunisławska,Bartosz Tylkowski Pandemic influenza preparedness : …
Opportunities and challenges for T cell-based influenza …
Influenza virus evades immunity by rapidly changing its surface antigens but, even when the vaccine is well matched to the current circulating virus strains, influenza vaccines are not as...
National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy 2020-2030
These guiding principles describe the characteristics that aim to modernize domestic manufacturing capacities; spark innovative vaccine technology; foster rigorous research and …
Influenza Vaccines for the Future - The New England Journal …
Inactivated-vaccine production begins with the generation of vaccine reference strains — hybrid viruses with the HA and NA genes from the drifted variant combined with other genes from a...
mRNA vaccine technology for a multivalent flu vaccine - The …
mRNA vaccine technology for a multivalent flu vaccine Researchers in Philadelphia, PA, USA, have developed a prototype vaccine that could protect against all known influeza virus strains.
NIH launches clinical trial of universal influenza vaccine …
Scientists from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) developed FluMos-v1 to stimulate antibodies against multiple influenza virus strains by displaying part of …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
vaccines displayed a weaker immunogenicity in humans than had been observed in the mouse models. Meanwhile these hurdles have been overcome and gene vaccines undergo a …
Learning more about how flu strains evolved may help guide …
Seasonal influenza vaccine is designed to protect against common influenza viruses including H3N2, H1N1 and B. Their study focused specifically on the H3N2 subtype of influenza virus.
Recent Advances, Approaches and Challenges in the …
This review discusses uni-versal vaccine approaches presently under development, with an emphasis on those targeting the highly conserved stalk of the HA protein, recent technological …
Vaccine Innovations — Past and Future - The New England …
Jan 30, 2021 · Policy advances have also en-hanced the effects of vaccination globally. The WHO launched the Expanded Program on Immuni-zation in 1974 to increase access to vaccines. …
Cohort study sheds light on why the flu vaccine is less …
There are so-called high-dose flu vaccines for people aged 60 or 65 and over, as the standard flu vaccines do not work sufficiently well for them. But what is the reason?
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
technology has revolutionized the study of influenza and the engineering of new vaccine strains by reverse genetics. This volume provides a historical background and state-of-the-art …
Release of research and development roadmap to improve flu …
of improved seasonal influenza vaccines and the generation of broadly protective or universal influenza vaccines that could mitigate the impact of future influenza pandemics.
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex Gene Vaccines Josef Thalhamer,Richard Weiss,Sandra Scheiblhofer,2011-08-31 The induction of antigen specific immune responses after in vivo transfection with expression plasmids has triggered a revolution of vaccine research After a first hype evoked by the
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved …
question: which technologies have truly improved flu vaccines? We'll explore the science behind these improvements, examining their impact on vaccine development, production, and ultimately, our protection against influenza.
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
The improvements in flu vaccines over the years are a testament to scientific innovation and technological advancement. From cell-based manufacturing and reverse genetics to improved adjuvants and high-throughput screening, multiple
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
technologies has significantly improved the efficacy of flu vaccines, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly. The Role of Adjuvants Stronger Immune Response: Adjuvants stimulate the immune system to produce a stronger and more durable antibody
Next-generation influenza vaccines: opportunities and …
Improved understanding of influenza antigen structure and immunobiology is advancing novel vaccine candidates into human trials. Influenza. a contagious respiratory disease caused by...
Recommendations on Strategies to Achieve the Healthy …
new and improved influenza vaccines and vaccine technologies including support for research, development, and licensure of influenza vaccines with improved effectiveness and duration of immunity, as well as steps that improve the immunogenicity and rapid production of existing influenza vaccines.
An mRNA Influenza Vaccine — Could It Deliver? - The New …
A study by Arevalo and colleagues suggests that an mRNA vaccine against influenza is feasi-ble (Fig. 1).3 They designed a multivalent mRNA-based formulation incorporating the 20 known influenza...
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Katarzyna Stadnicka,Aleksandra Dunisławska,Bartosz Tylkowski Pandemic influenza preparedness : hearing , Department of Health and Human Services United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on …
Opportunities and challenges for T cell-based influenza …
Influenza virus evades immunity by rapidly changing its surface antigens but, even when the vaccine is well matched to the current circulating virus strains, influenza vaccines are not as...
National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy 2020-2030
These guiding principles describe the characteristics that aim to modernize domestic manufacturing capacities; spark innovative vaccine technology; foster rigorous research and development; and promote vaccine coverage across populations.
Influenza Vaccines for the Future - The New England …
Inactivated-vaccine production begins with the generation of vaccine reference strains — hybrid viruses with the HA and NA genes from the drifted variant combined with other genes from a...
mRNA vaccine technology for a multivalent flu vaccine - The …
mRNA vaccine technology for a multivalent flu vaccine Researchers in Philadelphia, PA, USA, have developed a prototype vaccine that could protect against all known influeza virus strains.
NIH launches clinical trial of universal influenza vaccine …
Scientists from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) developed FluMos-v1 to stimulate antibodies against multiple influenza virus strains by displaying part of the...
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
vaccines displayed a weaker immunogenicity in humans than had been observed in the mouse models. Meanwhile these hurdles have been overcome and gene vaccines undergo a renaissance. The present book gives an update of the “world of naked gene vaccines”, namely DNA and RNA vaccines.
Learning more about how flu strains evolved may help guide …
Seasonal influenza vaccine is designed to protect against common influenza viruses including H3N2, H1N1 and B. Their study focused specifically on the H3N2 subtype of influenza virus.
Recent Advances, Approaches and Challenges in the …
This review discusses uni-versal vaccine approaches presently under development, with an emphasis on those targeting the highly conserved stalk of the HA protein, recent technological advancements used and the future prospects of a UIV in terms of its advantages, developmental obstacles and potential shortcomings. 1 | Introduction.
Vaccine Innovations — Past and Future - The New England …
Jan 30, 2021 · Policy advances have also en-hanced the effects of vaccination globally. The WHO launched the Expanded Program on Immuni-zation in 1974 to increase access to vaccines. Beginning in 2000,
Cohort study sheds light on why the flu vaccine is less …
There are so-called high-dose flu vaccines for people aged 60 or 65 and over, as the standard flu vaccines do not work sufficiently well for them. But what is the reason?
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
technology has revolutionized the study of influenza and the engineering of new vaccine strains by reverse genetics. This volume provides a historical background and state-of-the-art information about the recent advances in the biology of influenza and the design of new influenza vaccines.
