"The success of vaccines in controlling disease has been profound. Many diseases that formerly raged unchecked are now under control and others have been eliminated in parts of the world. Despite this success, infectious diseases continue to be public health problems particularly in developing countries where vaccines are unavailable, unaffordable, or both," says James Kaper of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, co-author of the report, Vaccine Development: Current Status and Future Needs.
The report is the outcome of a colloquium convened by the Academy in March 2005 to discuss vaccines, current infectious disease problems, the potential for new and better vaccines, vaccine safety, research issues surrounding vaccines, education, and training topics. Experts in vaccine research and development from academia, industry, and government deliberated and determined several recommendations for future progress in creating and applying vaccines.
The report identifies over 40 infectious agents that pose significant human health problems in the United States or abroad, the most significant of which is HIV. Of the infectious agents identified, only 12 currently have effective vaccines. In addition, the report also identifies a number of infectious agents that are relatively rare today, but are poised to emerge by either natural or terrorism-related means, like avian influenza, West Nile virus, and botulism toxin.
According to the report, research and development must continue the progress of the past to address those diseases that have el
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Contact: Angelo Bouselli
abouselli@asmusa.org
202-942-9292
American Society for Microbiology
7-Oct-2005