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Which of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Vaccines?
Flu season. The mere mention conjures images of sniffling coworkers, endless hand sanitizing, and the dreaded question: "Should I get the flu shot?" The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is a recurring topic of conversation, and rightfully so. This year's vaccine might be a perfect match for circulating strains, or it might miss the mark entirely. But how has the flu vaccine improved over the years? The answer lies in several groundbreaking technological advancements. This post delves into the key technological breakthroughs that have dramatically improved the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of flu vaccines, answering the burning question: which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines?
1. The Development of Cell-Based Manufacturing
For decades, the standard method for producing influenza vaccines involved growing the virus in chicken eggs. This "egg-based" method, while effective, presented several limitations. Egg allergies prevented some individuals from receiving the vaccine, and the process was slow and cumbersome, sometimes hindering the timely production of vaccines matched to circulating strains. The advent of cell-based manufacturing revolutionized vaccine production. This technology involves growing the influenza virus in mammalian cells, eliminating the egg-allergy concern and significantly speeding up the production process. This faster turnaround time means vaccines can be formulated and distributed more quickly, aligning more closely with the evolving viral landscape. Cell-based manufacturing is a key factor in the improved speed and accessibility of flu vaccines.
2. Reverse Genetics and Recombinant DNA Technology
Before reverse genetics, creating flu vaccines was a bit like playing a game of chance. Scientists relied on isolating and cultivating the virus, a process that was slow and susceptible to error. Reverse genetics changed everything. This technology allows scientists to engineer influenza viruses precisely by manipulating their genetic material. This means they can create viruses that are safer – unable to cause disease – yet still stimulate an effective immune response. Combined with recombinant DNA technology, this approach allows for the precise modification of viral genes to create vaccines tailored to specific strains. This level of control drastically improved vaccine efficacy and predictability, paving the way for more effective protection.
3. Improved Adjuvants for Enhanced Immunogenicity
An adjuvant is a substance added to a vaccine to enhance its effectiveness. Early flu vaccines had relatively low immunogenicity, meaning they didn't always trigger a robust immune response in all recipients. Advances in adjuvant technology have dramatically improved this aspect. Modern flu vaccines frequently incorporate adjuvants that stimulate a stronger and more durable immune response, leading to better protection against infection. These adjuvants can enhance both the speed and strength of antibody production, contributing to improved vaccine efficacy, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly.
4. High-Throughput Screening and Bioinformatics
The development and improvement of flu vaccines are no longer solely reliant on time-consuming laboratory experiments. High-throughput screening allows researchers to rapidly test numerous vaccine candidates against various influenza strains, significantly accelerating the identification of promising candidates. Bioinformatics, the application of computer science and information technology to biological data, complements this process by analyzing vast datasets to predict which vaccine candidates are most likely to be effective. These advancements have streamlined the vaccine development pipeline, making it faster and more efficient to create improved vaccines.
5. Advances in Vaccine Delivery Systems
The method of vaccine delivery also significantly impacts its effectiveness. While intramuscular injection remains the dominant method, research is ongoing into more efficient and less invasive delivery systems. This includes exploring nasal sprays and microneedle patches. These alternative delivery methods offer potential advantages, such as enhanced mucosal immunity (providing protection at the entry point of the virus) and improved patient compliance. While still under development, advancements in vaccine delivery hold the promise of even more effective and accessible flu vaccines in the future.
Conclusion:
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 breakthroughs have dramatically enhanced the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of these essential preventative measures. As research continues, we can expect even further improvements in flu vaccine technology, ultimately leading to better protection for everyone during flu season.
FAQs:
1. Are egg-free flu vaccines always better? While cell-based vaccines eliminate the egg allergy risk, the overall effectiveness can vary depending on the specific vaccine and the circulating flu strains.
2. How often does the flu vaccine formula change? The formula is updated annually to match the predicted circulating strains for that flu season.
3. Can I get the flu from the flu vaccine? No, flu vaccines cannot cause the flu. They use inactivated (killed) viruses or a single protein from the virus, not the live virus itself.
4. Why is the flu vaccine not always 100% effective? The effectiveness varies depending on several factors including the match between the vaccine and circulating strains, individual immune response, and the age and health of the recipient.
5. What are the long-term effects of flu vaccines? Extensive research has shown no evidence of significant long-term adverse effects from flu vaccines. Minor side effects, like soreness at the injection site, are common but usually temporary.
| which of these technological advances 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 improved flu vaccines: Exploring Lessons Learned from a Century of Outbreaks National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2019-07-05 In November 2018, an ad hoc planning committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine planned two sister workshops held in Washington, DC, to examine the lessons from influenza pandemics and other major outbreaks, understand the extent to which the lessons have been learned, and discuss how they could be applied further to ensure that countries are sufficiently ready for future pandemics. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from both workshops. |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 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 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 improved flu vaccines: What You Need to Know about Infectious Disease Madeline Drexler, |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Immunization Stuart Blume, 2017-08-15 As the world pins its hope for the end of the coronavirus pandemic to the successful rollout of vaccines, this book offers a vital long view of such efforts—and our resistance to them. At a time when vaccines are a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19 in all its various mutations, this hard-hitting book takes a longer historical perspective. It argues that globalization and cuts to healthcare have been eroding faith in the institutions producing and providing vaccines for more than thirty years. It tells the history of immunization from the work of early pioneers such as Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch through the eradication of smallpox in 1980, to the recent introduction of new kinds of genetically engineered vaccines. Immunization exposes the limits of public health authorities while suggesting how they can restore our confidence. Public health experts and all those considering vaccinations should read this timely history. |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Vaccine Design Sunil Thomas, 2016 |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 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 improved flu vaccines: Potential Risks and Benefits of Gain-of-Function Research National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Policy and Global Affairs, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Life Sciences, 2015-04-13 On October 17, 2014, spurred by incidents at U.S. government laboratories that raised serious biosafety concerns, the United States government launched a one-year deliberative process to address the continuing controversy surrounding so-called gain-of-function (GOF) research on respiratory pathogens with pandemic potential. The gain of function controversy began in late 2011 with the question of whether to publish the results of two experiments involving H5N1 avian influenza and continued to focus on certain research with highly pathogenic avian influenza over the next three years. The heart of the U.S. process is an evaluation of the potential risks and benefits of certain types of GOF experiments with influenza, SARS, and MERS viruses that would inform the development and adoption of a new U.S. Government policy governing the funding and conduct of GOF research. Potential Risks and Benefits of Gain-of-Function Research is the summary of a two-day public symposia on GOF research. Convened in December 2014 by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, the main focus of this event was to discuss principles important for, and key considerations in, the design of risk and benefit assessments of GOF research. Participants examined the underlying scientific and technical questions that are the source of current discussion and debate over GOF research involving pathogens with pandemic potential. This report is a record of the presentations and discussion of the meeting. |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Approaches to Controlling, Preventing and Eliminating H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Endemic Countries , 2011 Since then, most affected countries have eliminated the disease. |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 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 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 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 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 improved flu vaccines: Viral Pathogenesis Michael G. Katze, Marcus J. Korth, G. Lynn Law, Neal Nathanson, 2015-12-30 Viral Pathogenesis: From Basics to Systems Biology, Third Edition, has been thoroughly updated to cover topical advances in the evolving field of viral pathogenesis, while also providing the requisite classic foundational information for which it is recognized. The book provides key coverage of the newfound ability to profile molecular events on a system-wide scale, which has led to a deeper understanding of virus-host interactions, host signaling and molecular-interaction networks, and the role of host genetics in determining disease outcome. In addition, the content has been augmented with short chapters on seminal breakthroughs and profiles of their progenitors, as well as short commentaries on important or controversial issues in the field. Thus, the reader will be given a view of virology research with perspectives on issues such as biomedical ethics, public health policy, and human health. In summary, the third edition will give the student a sense of the exciting new perspectives on viral pathogenesis that have been provided by recent developments in genomics, computation, modeling, and systems biology. - Covers all aspects of viral infection, including viral entry, replication, and release, as well as innate and adaptive immunity and viral pathogenesis - Provides a fresh perspective on the approaches used to understand how viruses cause disease - Features molecular profiling techniques, whole genome sequencing, and innovative computational methods - Highlights the use of contemporary approaches and the insights they provide to the field |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 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 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 improved flu vaccines: Vaccine Analysis: Strategies, Principles, and Control Brian K. Nunnally, Vincent E. Turula, Robert D. Sitrin, 2014-11-27 This book is an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the research, development, or manufacture of new or existing vaccines. It describes a wide array of analytical and quality control technologies for the diverse vaccine modalities. Topics covered include the application of both classical and modern bio-analytical tools; procedures to assure safety and control of cross contamination; consistent biological transition of vaccines from the research laboratory to manufacturing scale; whole infectious attenuated organisms, such as live-attenuated and inactivated whole-cell bacterial vaccines and antiviral vaccines using attenuated or inactivated viruses; principles of viral inactivation and the application of these principles to vaccine development; recombinant DNA approaches to produce modern prophylactic vaccines; bacterial subunit, polysaccharide and glycoconjugate vaccines; combination vaccines that contain multiple antigens as well as regulatory requirements and the hurdles of licensure. |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012-05-28 Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This Special Report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, considering opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. SREX was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 18 November 2011 in Kampala, Uganda. |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 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 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 improved flu vaccines: Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Treatment of Influenza A and B Infections , 1999 |
| which of these technological advances 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 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 improved flu vaccines: Lipid A in Cancer Therapy Jean-Francois Jeannin, 2010-07-28 Cancer remains a major challenge for modern society. Not only does cancer rank among the first three causes of mortality in most population groups but also the therapeutic options available for most tumor types are limited. The existing ones have limited efficacy, lack specificity and their administration carry major side effects. Hence the urgent need for novel cancer therapies. One of the most promising avenues in research is the use of specific immunotherapy. The notion that the immune system may have important anti-tumor effects has been around for more than a century now. Every major progress in microbiology and immunology has been immediately followed by attempts to apply the new knowledge to the treatment of cancer. Progress has reached a point where it is well established that most cancer patients mount specific T cell responses against their tumors. The molecular identity of the antigens recognized by anti-tumor T cells has been elucidated and several hundreds of tumor-derived antigenic peptides have been discovered. Upon recognition of such peptides presented by self MHC molecules, both CD8 and CD4 T cells are activated, expand to high numbers and differentiate into effective anti-tumor agents. CD8 T cells directly destroy tumor cells and can cause even large tumors to completely regress in experimental mouse models. These observations have spurred intense research activity aimed at designing and testing cancer vaccines. Over 100 years ago Coley successfully used intratumoral injection of killed bacteria to treat sarcomas. The important anti-tumor effects observed in a fraction of these patients fueled major research efforts. These led to major discoveries in the 80s and the 90s. It turns out that bacterial lipopolysaccharides stimulate the production of massive amounts of a cytokine still known today as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a). They do so by engagement of a rather complex set of interactions culminating in the ligation of a Toll-like receptor, TLR -4. Ensuing signaling through this receptor initiates potent innate immune responses. Unfortunately the clinical use of both TNF-a and LPS can not be generalized due to their very narrow therapeutic margin. Importantly, synthetic Lipid A analogs have been identified that retain useful bioactivity and yet possess only mild toxicity. The relatively large body of information accumulated thus far on the molecular and cellular interactions set in motion by administration of LPS as well as by the synthetic lipid A analogs allow to place this family of bacterially-derived molecules at the crossroads between innate and adaptive immunity. By virtue of this key position, the therapeutic applications being pursued aim at using these compounds either as direct anti-tumor agents or as vaccine adjuvants. The clinical experience acquired so far on these two avenues is asymmetric. Few clinical trials using Lipid A analogs as single anti-cancer agents involving less than 100 patients with advanced cancer have been reported. In contrast, lipid A has been tested in over 300,000 individuals in various vaccines trials, including therapeutic cancer vaccines. Clearly most of the work needed to develop lipid A as effective anti-cancer agents and/or as vaccine adjuvant lies ahead in the near future. This book is a timely contribution and provides a much needed up-to-date overview of the chemical, biological and physiological aspects of lipid A. It should be a beacon to all those involved in this field of research. |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide Canada. Comité consultatif national de l'immunisation, Canada. National Advisory Committee on Immunization, 2006 The seventh edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide was developed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), with the support ofthe Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, to provide updated information and recommendations on the use of vaccines in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada conducted a survey in 2004, which confi rmed that the Canadian Immunization Guide is a very useful and reliable resource of information on immunization. |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: The Encyclopedia of Senior Health and Well-being Joseph Kandel, Christine A. Adamec, 2003-01-01 |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Digital Contact Tracing for Pandemic Response Jeffrey P. Kahn, 2020 Technologies of digital contact tracing have been used in several countries to help in the surveillance and containment of COVID-19. These technologies have promise, but they also raise important ethical, legal, and governance challenges that require comprehensive analysis in order to support decision-making. Johns Hopkins University recognized the importance of helping to guide this process and organized an expert group with members from inside and outside the university. This expert group urges a stepwise approach that prioritizes the alignment of technology with public health needs, building choice into design architecture and capturing real-world results and impacts to allow for adjustments as required-- |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Emerging Infectious Diseases , 1998 |
| which of these technological advances improved flu vaccines: Vaccine Delivery Strategies Guido Dietrich, Werner Goebel, 2002-01 Written by leading experts in the field, this book examines the current state of research of all the most important and modern vaccine delivery systems available to date. The immunological principles upon which these systems are based, their potential applications and current clinical status are detailed. Topics covered include: bacterial polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, virosomes and liposomes, bacterial ghosts, attenuated Salmonella and Shigella vaccines, vaccines against tumors, edible vaccines and much more. An essential text for all vaccinologists, microbiologists, health professionals, biotechnologists, and pharmaceutial companies. |
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