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Vaccines: obstacles and opportunities from discovery to use
J C Petricciani1, V P Grachev, P P Sizaret
1World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Vaccine development involves common elements but faces challenges like liability fears. Balancing safety, cost, and availability is crucial for global infectious disease reduction.
Area of Science:
- Vaccinology
- Public Health Policy
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Vaccine development programs, post-smallpox, exhibit commonalities.
- Key investment factors include epidemiology, market size, funding, and liability concerns.
Observation:
- Fear of liability can stifle innovation and regulatory decision-making in vaccine development.
- Vaccine evaluation follows a rigorous progression from preclinical studies to human clinical trials.
- Sociopolitical influences can impact the vaccine approval process.
Findings:
- The World Health Organization sets international norms for vaccine acceptability.
- Balancing vaccine purity, safety, cost, and availability is essential for widespread adoption.
- Transitioning to cell line-derived vaccines (e.g., rabies) requires careful consideration of safety and purity.
Implications:
- Addressing liability concerns is vital for fostering vaccine innovation.
- International cooperation and pragmatic decision-making are necessary to reduce the global burden of infectious diseases.
- Ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability is critical for public health equity.