Vaccines - Overview

Some vaccines require regular updates due to the variability of viruses, as seen with influenza and other pathogens. This variability can affect vaccine efficacy and necessitates alterations in composition over time.

Pathogen Eradication

The rapid development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was facilitated by previous research on related viruses and existing technological frameworks. Smallpox has been eradicated due to effective vaccination strategies; measles and poliovirus are likely candidates for eradication as well, whereas SARS-CoV-2 and influenza present ongoing challenges.

Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

Vaccines provide significant health benefits, saving millions of lives and increasing life expectancy since the early 1900s. However, they are not without risks; rare side effects have been associated with vaccines, including severe outcomes from the smallpox vaccine and vaccine-induced polio.

Specific Risks

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been linked to rare thrombosis cases, while mRNA vaccines have shown associations with inflammatory conditions like endocarditis and pericarditis. Vaccine benefits must be weighed against these risks.

Antiviral Therapy - HIV

HIV originated from simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) through spillover events. Key modes of transmission include sexual contact, breastfeeding, and blood exposure. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has led to significant mortality and ongoing infection rates, with global health targets aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and viral load suppression by 2025.

Current Treatments

Antiretroviral therapies include several classes of drugs targeting specific stages of the HIV life cycle, such as reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs, NtRTIs, NNRTIs), integrase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. These therapies are critical in managing HIV and aiding in viral suppression efforts.