"The impact and importance of vaccines cannot be overstated they provide safe, cost-effective and efficient means of preventing illness, disability and death from infectious diseases," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "Each year, immunization programs save millions of lives worldwide, and more widespread administration of currently available vaccines could save millions more. Developing new vaccines with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and potential agents of bioterrorism is a critical priority of the NIAID."
Besides describing the state of the science, this edition of The Jordan Report reviews the last two decades and highlights important achievements in the field of vaccinology. These achievements include new vaccines for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b as well as an improved vaccine against whooping cough.
The report also includes expert perspectives on a variety of vaccine research-related topics such as vaccine regulations, safety evaluations, economic considerations and vaccine risk communication. Other key topics in the report include the following:
Vaccines against drug-resistant, emerging and re-emerging diseases
In 2001, approximately six million deaths worldwide were attributed to three diseases HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for which no effective vaccines exist. In many cases, the pathogens that cause these diseases h
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Contact: Jeff Minerd
jminerd@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6-Nov-2002