Injection-free vaccinations developed with the help of the Gates Foundation. Researchers have proved that "injection-free" vaccines are an effective tool in the fight against diseases.
The team, based in King's College London and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, used dried sugar to create a microneedle array — a tiny disc that only lightly perforates the skin. The dried sugar, which was laced with a proposed HIV vaccine, dissolves when inserted in to the skin, effectively delivering the vaccine and kick-starting an immune response. The method is far less invasive than conventional vaccines that are delivered via a hypodermic needle. Other benefits to the microneedle array include preservation; many traditional liquid vaccines need to be kept at extremely low temperatures, which is a major barrier to transportation.
The researchers' dried vaccine, however, remained as stable and effective at room temperature as the same dose of liquid vaccine preserved at minus 80 degrees Celsius. Silky scheme for vaccine storage without refrigeration - health - 09 July 2012. Silkworms may provide a novel way to store vaccines.
Preventable infections kill millions of children in poor countries, partly because reliable refrigeration for vaccines isn't always available. Vaccines are refrigerated to slow the rate at which the biological molecules they contain gradually degrade, largely due to contact with water. Fibroin, a protein in silk, forms stable sheets that contain tiny pockets lined with molecules that repel water. You can trap a biological molecule within these pockets by dissolving it with fibroin in water, then drying it to form a film. Tucked away in a pocket, the molecule is protected. David Kaplan and colleagues at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, made such films with the live measles, mumps and rubella viruses in the MMR vaccine. Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1206210109. Stabilization of vaccines and antibiotics in silk and eliminating the cold chain.
Author Affiliations Edited by Arnold L.
Demain, Drew University, Madison, NJ, and approved June 12, 2012 (received for review April 12, 2012) Abstract Sensitive biological compounds, such as vaccines and antibiotics, traditionally require a time-dependent “cold chain” to maximize therapeutic activity. This flawed process results in billions of dollars worth of viable drug loss during shipping and storage, and severely limits distribution to developing nations with limited infrastructure. When Pro-Vaccine Messaging Backfires: Scientific American Podcast.
Americans get a stream of messages telling them to avoid vaccines, from Jenny McCarthy on Oprah to billboard animations shown in Times Square.
The responsible solution—fight back with forceful pro-vaccine messaging, right? Actually, fighting fire with fire may backfire, according to a study in the journal Health Psychology. Researchers asked over 100 participants to imagine parenting an eight-month old as they read about a pretend illness. In the scenario, their doctor advised that the child be vaccinated against the disease—after which subjects were shown typical anti-vaccine warnings that described how vaccines compromise the infant’s immune system. Researchers then showed the participants two reassuring statements that vaccines pose little risk. Those who were told there was no evidence for risk reported greater concern about vaccination and less intention to vaccinate their child than those who read the moderate messaging.
Belief that flu jab really works boosts uptake among health-care workers. Public release date: 7-Mar-2012 [ Print | E-mail Share ] [ Close Window ] Contact: Stephanie Burnssburns@bmjgroup.com 44-207-383-6920BMJ-British Medical Journal A belief that the seasonal flu jab really works is far more likely to sway healthcare professionals to get vaccinated than the potential to protect at risk patients from infection, finds research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Healthcare systems in many developed countries have struggled to persuade clinicians on the frontline to have the seasonal flu jab to prevent the spread of the virus to patients. The researchers trawled the available published evidence on the subject in a bid to re-analyse the data and find out what factors encouraged or discouraged healthcare professionals to opt for seasonal flu vaccination. They found 13 suitable studies, involving just under 85,000 healthcare workers in hospitals in North America, Europe, and Australia. Microneedle vaccine patch boosts flu protection through robust skin cell immune response.
Public release date: 6-Mar-2012 [ Print | E-mail Share ] [ Close Window ] Contact: Holly Korschunhkorsch@emory.edu 404-727-3990Emory University Recent research found that microneedle vaccine patches are more effective at delivering protection against influenza virus in mice than subcutaneous or intramuscular inoculation.
A new, detailed analysis of the early immune responses by the Emory and Georgia Tech research team helps explain why the skin is such fertile ground for vaccination with these tiny, virtually painless microneedles. The research was published in the January/February issue of the online journal mBio. The skin, in contrast to the muscles, contains a rich network of antigen-presenting cells, which are immune signaling cells that are essential to initiating an immune response. OMS – 2011 - The immunological basis for immunization series - Module 5: Tuberculosis. Cold Chain. WHO: Natl vaccines schedules. IAMAT Immunisations chart (open in tab) Africa - Vaccinations & Malaria Tablets. ACIP - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Home Page - Vaccines.
JCVI advice on pneumococcal vaccination. Fabrication of Silk Microneedles for Controlled-Release Drug Delivery - Tsioris - 2011 - Advanced Functional Materials. Gates appeals for decade of vaccines. To Vaccinate or not Vaccinate Your Children - Tewksbury, MA Patch. Vaccinations have come under scrutiny in recent years; How does the Moms Council feel about the practice. is made of moms throughout the community from all different walks of life.
Each week, the moms tackle a different question posed by readers of Tewksbury Patch on issues of life, family and motherhood. This week's topic is about deals with vaccinations. Do they do more harm than good? Are they worthwhile? Dear Moms Council, A columnist on Patch about a bad reaction her son had from a vaccination. Seth Mnookin: The Autism Vaccine Controversy and the Need for Responsible Science Journalism. FDA Clears HIV Vaccine For Human Trials. CBS Detroit (con't) Affordable Care Act Updates: CBSDetroit.com/ACA Health News & Information: CBSDetroit.com/Health DETROIT (WWJ) – An Ontario doctor is hopeful that a vaccine he developed can stop the transmission of HIV — the virus that causes AIDS.
University of Western Ontario researcher Dr. Chil-Yong Kang said his treatment is the only one to use a “whole” genetically modified HIV virus that’s been killed, much like methods used for polio, rabies and flu vaccines. “We started our research on HIV and AIDS 20 years ago and over the last 10 years we have developed a vaccine. So far, the vaccine has only been tested in monkeys, but the treatment has given doctors reason to be cautiously optimistic.