Introduction to issue of highlighted research presented at the 2015 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Annual Conference on Vaccine Research

• Authors: Walter Orenstein, Emory University; Raphael Simon, University of Maryland
• Journal Title: Vaccine
• Volume: Volume 34, Number 30
• Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd. | 2016-06-24, Pages 3522-3524
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.001
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; Medicine, Research & Experimental; Research & Experimental Medicine

Abstract

Vaccines represent one of the most successful public health measures in history. Their development has led to complete elimination of the only human disease ever eradicated, smallpox, as well as eradication of one of the three polio serotypes [1], [2]. In the United States alone, routine immunization of children with vaccines against 13 diseases has been estimated to prevent more than 19 million cases of those diseases in each birth cohort, along with averting more than 42,000 deaths [3]. However the development of safe and effective vaccines is required for the many remaining infectious diseases for which vaccines are not available, as well as a counter to the unexpected emergence of new and deadly pathogens. Further, there remains many areas for which existing vaccines have suboptimal effectiveness or safety; characteristics that may be improved upon. Moreover, some vaccines are underutilized and interventions are needed to improve uptake.