Many developments of new vaccines can arguably be considered the biggest advancement in the history of medicine. Outbreaks and plagues of diseases like polio and smallpox, horribly diminished populations all around the world before breakthroughs in science developed immunizations to impede these epidemics and, in some cases, eradicate them all together. I would like to research the development processes of vaccines as well as the production and dispersal. In my research I hope to find reasons in favor of, and against “forced” immunizations, as this has become widely debated topic in recent years. While many 3rd world countries are thriving in the midst of public health and safety campaigns that are providing them with these immunizations for the first time, there are many skeptical citizens who deem these vaccinations unsafe. The choice of many to deny these immunizations is cause for reemergence of certain diseases. Lastly I will delve into the future expectations of the research and development that is going on today. Many threatening diseases can and will be treated with the vaccines of tomorrow.
~DB
I am very interested in finding out what diseases are the main focus right now, for the future. Whats the average length of time it takes for a vaccine to be created? And what all has to happen before it is okay to give to the public?
T Stull brings up some good points; how does the production cycle for vaccines effect emerging and fast-evolving viruses like the flu?
Its funny how the past and present is being brought up in your discussion. Mumps is currently on on outbreak,you can use this as a combination of the past and present. Do you feel that we should cure illnesses in third world countries first or should we try to find cures for other diseases in the United States like HIV?
I feel that world health is important. We should help those in need, and the application of these vaccines shouldn’t really take away from researching and developing new ones.