Search

Provides information on varicella infection and vaccination. Reason parents and physicians were slow to accept varicella vaccine; Surveillance sites established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to monitor chickenpox among children; Concern about the varicella immunization.

The article discusses the development of vaccines that are used now as new therapeutic approaches to fighting diseases. Most experts agree that the development of vaccines has been the most essential public health intervention in history with a various record number of new vaccines in various stages of development for use as therapy against diseases that were not considered preventable or curable before such as cancer, HIV, Alzheimer's disease, herpes, and multiple sclerosis. Immunology experts believed that great changes are coming regarding the use of vaccines considering its availability and advancements. INSET: Vaccine fatigue: Nothing lasts forever.

Offers observation on the importance of having children fully immunized against infectious diseases. Information on varicella vaccine.

The article presents the developments in vaccination, which induces immunity after the introduction of antigen in the body. It has been traditionally been used to combat the spread of communicable disease like cholera, rabies and hepatitis. Merck has developed the Zostavax for the prevention of shingles, caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus and the Gardasil, which is for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) strains. Efforts are now directed in the development of vaccines for the management of conditions like prostate cancer and substance abuse. Cell Genesys, Accentia BioPharmaceuticals and Genitope Corp. are some of the companies developing immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

Reports on the effectiveness of a vaccine against genital herpes disease that works only for women who are seronegative for herpes simplex virus-1 and 2. Success of vaccine due to an adjuvant; Composition of the adjuvant; Results of experimental studies; Speculations on vaccine efficacy only in women.

The article reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing for Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) from Merck & Co. Inc. The new product is a vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster or shingles in patients aged 60 years and above. The vaccine was evaluated for efficacy in 38,546 men and women and results showed that the vaccine effected a 51 percent reduction of the risk of developing shingles. It has also reduced the incidence of long-term nerve pain of older patients with age 70 years and above but showed that they went on to develop the disease. The vaccine will need to be kept frozen during storage.

The article presents Merck's biologics license for Zostavax, an experimental shingles vaccine. The decision regarding whether or not to approve this license has been delayed by the Food and Drugs Administration. The goal for the new review date is set on May 25. The reason for the extension is for further review of additional information submitted by Merck.

Presents an abstract of an article dealing with the study of vaccines for a number of conditions including herpes, melanoma and AIDS, published in `Men's Health,' January/February 1996. Absence of research on an AIDS vaccine in the United States.