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.
A vaccine partially imitates the virus in the patient's body, so that the person's immune system starts to manufacture viral antibodies. The body does this in response to the detected threat of the pseudo-virus (the vaccine).
Viral antibodies are the body's natural defence against viruses. They are particles manufactured by the immune system which destroy viral particles. Only the human body has the ability to manufacture antibodies, and once they are present, the person can never be infected by that same virus again. Successful vaccination therefore enables the body to develop permanent resistance to a virus.
This permanent resistance is the reason why young kids are vaccinated against certain obvious, common diseases, such as polio or measles. Once immunized, people remain safe fort he rest of their lives, since the antibodies are always present. Even extremely mundane, seemingly innocuous illnesses, such as smallpox, were immense threats to public health in the past and the introduction of effective vaccines was the main step in removing them from society.
Some of the most lethal or serious sicknesses are the result of viral activity. The hemorrhagic fever Ebola is one, as is AIDS, meningitis (in one of its forms), and, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, polio (which paralyses the patient if left untreated). Targeting these viruses for immunization development is obviously a primary priority in modern medicine. The public recognizes this priority, and the media are not slow to report on attempts to formulate an antidote to a notorious disease, no matter how empty such attempts may turn out to be.
A virus may re-surface in a medication-resistant form in time. This happens if it is able to mutate into an unknown form, or one against which the antibodies in the patient are not effective. This may sound extreme or unlikely, but it happens every year with the influenza virus, which is why there is no viable vaccine for flu, or for the common cold, either. These viruses simply mutate too quickly and cannot be permanently countered.
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.
A vaccine partially imitates the virus in the patient's body, so that the person's immune system starts to manufacture viral antibodies. The body does this in response to the detected threat of the pseudo-virus (the vaccine).
Viral antibodies are the body's natural defence against viruses. They are particles manufactured by the immune system which destroy viral particles. Only the human body has the ability to manufacture antibodies, and once they are present, the person can never be infected by that same virus again. Successful vaccination therefore enables the body to develop permanent resistance to a virus.
This permanent resistance is the reason why young kids are vaccinated against certain obvious, common diseases, such as polio or measles. Once immunized, people remain safe fort he rest of their lives, since the antibodies are always present. Even extremely mundane, seemingly innocuous illnesses, such as smallpox, were immense threats to public health in the past and the introduction of effective vaccines was the main step in removing them from society.
Some of the most lethal or serious sicknesses are the result of viral activity. The hemorrhagic fever Ebola is one, as is AIDS, meningitis (in one of its forms), and, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, polio (which paralyses the patient if left untreated). Targeting these viruses for immunization development is obviously a primary priority in modern medicine. The public recognizes this priority, and the media are not slow to report on attempts to formulate an antidote to a notorious disease, no matter how empty such attempts may turn out to be.
A virus may re-surface in a medication-resistant form in time. This happens if it is able to mutate into an unknown form, or one against which the antibodies in the patient are not effective. This may sound extreme or unlikely, but it happens every year with the influenza virus, which is why there is no viable vaccine for flu, or for the common cold, either. These viruses simply mutate too quickly and cannot be permanently countered.
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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