188
The technology of vaccine preparations is continuously evolving, in order to
improve our capacity to prepare quickly enormous amounts of vaccinating doses
from microorganisms soon after their isolation in newly appearing forms or strains.
For viruses, for instance, an important step forward has been the technology of
reproducing the organisms on cell cultures rather than on fertilized chicken eggs.
11.6.3 Vaccination Campaigns: How Best Use Vaccines
Mass vaccination campaigns have taken place several times in history, like those of
1947 against smallpox, in which the citizens of New York City stood in long lines to
be vaccinated at a rate of eight persons per minute, and like those of several countries
against polio (after the Sabin vaccine introduction, in 1960), with periodic vaccination
days organized to reach many secluded groups of citizens living in remote areas [22].
The realities, however, are that the existence of a vaccine is not enough to prevent
a worldwide pandemic; more testing is needed before a new vaccine may be offered
to the public; for vaccines prepared on chicken eggs, the successful mass production
depends on the availability of the eggs, indeed; obstacles include an organizational
system for distribution and timely supply of doses, where and when they are needed.
Good news for scientists and biologists is that since the September 2001 terroristic attacks in the USA (anthrax spores in the mailings), the employment needs of
biologists have increased remarkably (production of vaccines, enactment of protection plans, treatment schemes for infections, etc.) [21, 22].
The field of immunology, in particular for vaccine research and development,
continues to be of high impact in modern medicine and high relevance in the contrast of bioterrorism.
To conclude, science is here to help; to be of use; to spread not infections but
knowledge, across different cultures and nationalities. Our role of scientists is
mostly that of being “pontifices” (Latin “pontes facientes,” which means “bridge
makers” across cultures and nationalities). For this reason, it has been a real pleasure to exchange our knowledge here and to discuss it together, among so many
different people and so broad scientific expertise.
11.7 Development of Biothreat Vaccines
The development of vaccines and other countermeasures against the diverse biological agents that can be considered posing potential biothreats to public health is
a daunting challenge for the scientific community. Licensed vaccines against both
anthrax and smallpox that protect against aerosol transmission are available. An
existing licensed plague vaccine is protective against flea - transmitted disease but
not against aerosol challenge in animal experiments or pneumonic plague. This vaccine is in limited supply, and the manufacturer has recently ceased production.
M. Bologna et al.
The technology of vaccine preparations is continuously evolving, in order to
improve our capacity to prepare quickly enormous amounts of vaccinating doses
from microorganisms soon after their isolation in newly appearing forms or strains.
For viruses, for instance, an important step forward has been the technology of
reproducing the organisms on cell cultures rather than on fertilized chicken eggs.
11.6.3 Vaccination Campaigns: How Best Use Vaccines
Mass vaccination campaigns have taken place several times in history, like those of
1947 against smallpox, in which the citizens of New York City stood in long lines to
be vaccinated at a rate of eight persons per minute, and like those of several countries
against polio (after the Sabin vaccine introduction, in 1960), with periodic vaccination
days organized to reach many secluded groups of citizens living in remote areas [22].
The realities, however, are that the existence of a vaccine is not enough to prevent
a worldwide pandemic; more testing is needed before a new vaccine may be offered
to the public; for vaccines prepared on chicken eggs, the successful mass production
depends on the availability of the eggs, indeed; obstacles include an organizational
system for distribution and timely supply of doses, where and when they are needed.
Good news for scientists and biologists is that since the September 2001 terroristic attacks in the USA (anthrax spores in the mailings), the employment needs of
biologists have increased remarkably (production of vaccines, enactment of protection plans, treatment schemes for infections, etc.) [21, 22].
The field of immunology, in particular for vaccine research and development,
continues to be of high impact in modern medicine and high relevance in the contrast of bioterrorism.
To conclude, science is here to help; to be of use; to spread not infections but
knowledge, across different cultures and nationalities. Our role of scientists is
mostly that of being “pontifices” (Latin “pontes facientes,” which means “bridge
makers” across cultures and nationalities). For this reason, it has been a real pleasure to exchange our knowledge here and to discuss it together, among so many
different people and so broad scientific expertise.
11.7 Development of Biothreat Vaccines
The development of vaccines and other countermeasures against the diverse biological agents that can be considered posing potential biothreats to public health is
a daunting challenge for the scientific community. Licensed vaccines against both
anthrax and smallpox that protect against aerosol transmission are available. An
existing licensed plague vaccine is protective against flea - transmitted disease but
not against aerosol challenge in animal experiments or pneumonic plague. This vaccine is in limited supply, and the manufacturer has recently ceased production.
M. Bologna et al.