As medical science progresses and medicines and surgical techniques become progressively more sophisticated, their impact on the patient and society at large becomes less predictable and, at the same time, more impressive, where they are successful. In turning to modern medicine for solutions to their health problems, people are usually satisfied with the response that they receive. However, there remain certain illnesses which cannot be cured, and these are typically caused by pathogens known as viruses. Vaccine formulation development is an essential process in trying to counter viruses and their spread.
The standard response nowadays to infection is to resort to an antibiotic. However, viruses do not respond to these, because they are not biotic organisms. Technically, they are not alive, so antibiotic measures are useless in trying to eliminate them. Surgery and other procedures, such as radiation, are equally non-applicable. The only sure measure is a vaccine.
It operates on the basis of a very simple principle. It mimics infection by the targeted virus in the patient's body, and thereby encourages the body to develop viral anti-bodies. The body produces the anti-bodies as soon as it detects the vaccine.
These antibodies are the natural reaction to the viral infection. The immune system manufactures them in response to the virus' presence, and only the human body is able to do this. After the infection has been eliminated, the antibodies remain in the system, preventing relapses for the rest of the person's life. This is why vaccination has the potential to bring about permanent resistance (or immunity) to a specific virus.
This is the reasoning behind the vaccination of small children against well-known viral infections such as smallpox or polio. They then remain safe for the rest of their lives, because they already have the viral antibodies in their systems. A basic, cliched illness, like smallpox, may once have been a massive problem to the human population, and the most important intervention in their elimination was the development of the smallpox vaccine.
Some very serious illnesses are caused by viruses, such as AIDS, Ebola, one of the two forms of meningitis, and, as mentioned previously, polio. All of these illnesses can cause permanent negative outcomes or even death. Trying to develop a vaccine to treat them is therefore an important activity in modern medicine, and one which sometimes enjoys attention in the media.
Once a vaccine has been formulated, however, the same virus may yet become a problem in the future. This occurs through the natural process of genetic mutation, during the reproduction of the virus. Viruses do this constantly, and so they may turn into a new form or strain, one which is not affected by the patient's antibodies. This sounds terrifying, but it is common. A prime example if the flu virus, which takes on a new strain every year, and so no vaccine has been developed for it. The common cold does the same. No pharmacological intervention lasts more than one season against these viruses, and immunization is therefore not a long-term solution to them.
But despite the possibility or existence of vaccines, people should still respect their health. The maintenance of a responsible lifestyle is important. Some diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are entirely preventable through sound health practices. In fact, for some viruses there is no vaccine, and dependence on a medical cure is not advisable or even possible.
The standard response nowadays to infection is to resort to an antibiotic. However, viruses do not respond to these, because they are not biotic organisms. Technically, they are not alive, so antibiotic measures are useless in trying to eliminate them. Surgery and other procedures, such as radiation, are equally non-applicable. The only sure measure is a vaccine.
It operates on the basis of a very simple principle. It mimics infection by the targeted virus in the patient's body, and thereby encourages the body to develop viral anti-bodies. The body produces the anti-bodies as soon as it detects the vaccine.
These antibodies are the natural reaction to the viral infection. The immune system manufactures them in response to the virus' presence, and only the human body is able to do this. After the infection has been eliminated, the antibodies remain in the system, preventing relapses for the rest of the person's life. This is why vaccination has the potential to bring about permanent resistance (or immunity) to a specific virus.
This is the reasoning behind the vaccination of small children against well-known viral infections such as smallpox or polio. They then remain safe for the rest of their lives, because they already have the viral antibodies in their systems. A basic, cliched illness, like smallpox, may once have been a massive problem to the human population, and the most important intervention in their elimination was the development of the smallpox vaccine.
Some very serious illnesses are caused by viruses, such as AIDS, Ebola, one of the two forms of meningitis, and, as mentioned previously, polio. All of these illnesses can cause permanent negative outcomes or even death. Trying to develop a vaccine to treat them is therefore an important activity in modern medicine, and one which sometimes enjoys attention in the media.
Once a vaccine has been formulated, however, the same virus may yet become a problem in the future. This occurs through the natural process of genetic mutation, during the reproduction of the virus. Viruses do this constantly, and so they may turn into a new form or strain, one which is not affected by the patient's antibodies. This sounds terrifying, but it is common. A prime example if the flu virus, which takes on a new strain every year, and so no vaccine has been developed for it. The common cold does the same. No pharmacological intervention lasts more than one season against these viruses, and immunization is therefore not a long-term solution to them.
But despite the possibility or existence of vaccines, people should still respect their health. The maintenance of a responsible lifestyle is important. Some diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are entirely preventable through sound health practices. In fact, for some viruses there is no vaccine, and dependence on a medical cure is not advisable or even possible.
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