Vaccination

Cancer vaccines are designed to promote tumor specific immune responses, particularly cytotoxic CD8 positive T cells that are specific to tumor antigens. The earliest vaccines, which were developed in 1994-95, tested non-mutated, shared tumor associated antigens that had been shown to be immunogenic and capable of inducing clinical responses in a minority of people with late stage cancer. Technological developments in the past few years have enabled the investigation of vaccines that target mutated antigens that are patient specific. Several platforms for cancer vaccination are being tested, including peptides, proteins, antigen presenting cells, tumor cells, and viral vectors. Standard of care treatments, such as surgery and ablation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, can also induce antitumor immunity, thereby having cancer vaccine effects. The monitoring of patients’ immune responses at baseline and after standard of care treatment is shedding light on immune biomarkers. Combination therapies are being tested in clinical trials and are likely to be the best approach to improving patient outcomes.  

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Cancer vaccines are designed to promote tumor specific immune responses, particularly cytotoxic CD8 positive T cells that are specific to tumor antigens. The earliest vaccines, which were developed in 1994-95, tested non-mutated, shared tumor associated antigens that had been shown to be immunogenic and capable of inducing clinical responses in a minority of people with late stage cancer. Technological developments in the past few years have enabled the investigation of vaccines that target mutated antigens that are patient specific. Several platforms for cancer vaccination are being tested, including peptides, proteins, antigen presenting cells, tumor cells, and viral vectors. Standard of care treatments, such as surgery and ablation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, can also induce antitumor immunity, thereby having cancer vaccine effects. The monitoring of patients’ immune responses at baseline and after standard of care treatment is shedding light on immune biomarkers. Combination therapies are being tested in clinical trials and are likely to be the best approach to improving patient outcomes.  

Maternal immunisation with Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and viral influenza vaccines may reduce the risk of infections in mothers and infants, however, this is an area of controversy. Both infections can cause severe pneumonia and deaths among children under five years of age, particularly in developing countries. Rates of influenza-associated complications and consequent hospitalisations are substantially higher among pregnant women, infants and newborns. Pregnant women who are vaccinated against influenza have protective levels of anti-influenza antibodies, which can be passively transferred to the infant to improve their health outcomes. Infants of immune mothers usually have influenza symptoms that are delayed in onset and of shorter duration. This review investigated whether vaccinating pregnant women with Hib and viral influenza vaccinations during pregnancy could reduce the risk of infection among mothers and babies and improve health outcomes for both.  

One dose of bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be adequate to prevent most cases of cervical cancer, shows a study combining data from two large trials and published in Lancet Oncology1 that found similar protection against HPV infection from a single vaccination as from the current two and three dose schedules.  

Find out which vaccinations are offered on the NHS, the age you should ideally have them, and optional vaccinations for special risk groups.  

This technology review presents the lattest understanding of Newcastle disease, its characteristics, epidemiology, symptoms and control. It will be of practical value to state and private veterinarians and to all those involved with rural poultry production who wish to control this disease.  

A 12 year old boy who developed narcolepsy and cataplexy after being vaccinated against swine flu at age 7 has been awarded £120 000 (€165 000; $186 000) in compensation, in a ruling that opens the way for dozens of similar awards from the United Kingdom’s statutory vaccine damage compensation scheme.  

A 12 year old boy who developed narcolepsy and cataplexy after being vaccinated against swine flu at age 7 has been awarded £120 000 (€165 000; $186 000) in compensation, in a ruling that opens the way for dozens of similar awards from the United Kingdom’s statutory vaccine damage compensation scheme.  

A 12 year old boy who developed narcolepsy and cataplexy after being vaccinated against swine flu at age 7 has been awarded £120 000 (€165 000; $186 000) in compensation, in a ruling that opens the way for dozens of similar awards from the United Kingdom’s statutory vaccine damage compensation scheme.  

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Anti-Vaccine... Pro-Vaccine... No matter which side you fall on... you can't deny the facts. Parents... PLEASE STOP VACCINATING YOUR CHILDREN! We're losing a...  

Vaccines contain antigens that make our immune system produce antibodies that can protect against disease. Antigens are modified or partial forms of the virus, bacteria, or the toxin that cause the disease that the vaccine protects against. Because the antigen is altered from its original form it cannot cause disease, but it can produce an immune response.  

After a bitter battle, California has ended vaccine exemptions on the basis of religion or personal belief. Under the new law, signed by Governor Jerry Brown on 30 June, unvaccinated children in the state will not be allowed to attend school, day care programs, and nurseries, unless they have a medical reason, such as an allergy, for not receiving a vaccination. Previously, just two other US states, West Virginia and Mississippi, limited exemptions to medical reasons.