A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases : Immunization - Chance and Necessity

While there are many short articles on the history of vaccines and a number of multi-author scientific books there is no single work that probes the historical debates, the scientific, political and cultural milieu that influenced the acceptance of immunological intervention in infectious diseases. A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity treads a neutral path but does not avoid discussion. The uncertainty in the outcome of vaccination can only be determined by experiment. The path to vaccine development was scientifically complex because the immune system and the manner in which humans respond to infection is variable and also complex. The development of vaccines has obliterated many fatal infections diseases and will continue to do so. A New History of Vaccines: Chance and Necessity for Immunization also describes the risks and benefits in a visibly objective manner. This has not always been so but is a sine qua non for global acceptance of each new vaccine as it is developed. Front Cover A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements 1 - Infectious diseases: a historical documentary The origins of infectious diseases Viruses and cells: early origins Susceptibility to pathogenic viruses Antibiotic resistance and its origins Epidemics, pandemics, and survival Understanding how infectious diseases spread The beginnings of epidemiological thinking Epidemiological principles in infectious disease References 2 - The scourge of smallpox: variolation, vaccination, and Edward Jenner Early history Virus DNA as a historical record Smallpox in Europe The origins and spread of inoculation Inoculation in Europe: the role of dogma and prejudice The demise of smallpox inoculation and rise of the vacca Earlier claims for cowpox vaccination Some conclusions References 3 - Smallpox vaccination in the 19th century: obstinacy versus pragmatism Early medical doctrine: the four “humors” Disease prevention: inoculation versus vaccination in Europe The North American experience Great Britain—no better, no worse References 4 - The biological origins of infection unveiled The backcloth of early experimental observation Anthrax: a disease reveals its causative agent The birth of Pasteur's germ theory Proving causation was not trivial Rabies meets “the prepared mind” The importance of strong microbiology in identifying the causes of infection Tuberculosis and its cause A not so successful coda References 5 - Cholera, plague, typhoid, and paratyphoid: a cautious start to a vaccine revolution Cholera meets a rigorous analyst The plague Typhoid and paratyphoid References 6 - Diphtheria and tetanus: the discovery of passive immunization The diphtheria microorganism identified The development of anti-diphtheria therapy and the role of tetanus research The dawn of passive immunization Serum therapy arrives on the world stage A diphtheria vaccine emerges From passive immunotherapy to active vaccines Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccination today References 7 - The tuberculosis roller coaster: vaccines and antibiotics The BCG vaccine arrives Tuberculosis and the impact of chemical intervention The persistent treatment dilemma References 8 - Viruses: epic challenges for vaccinology The origin of viruses The discovery of viruses The discovery of bacterial viruses Methods and concepts The illusive virus nature revealed Why viruses? Vaccine effects on virus and bacterial fitness References 9 - Some tropical diseases: the flaviviruses Introduction Yellow fever The quest for a vaccine The yellow fever vaccine today Dengue The dengue virus discovery Dengue vaccine development and the unusual immunology of multiple infections Coda Japanese encephalitis virus A Japanese encephalitis vaccine emerges Zika virus Zika virus discovery The vaccine challenges A cautionary epilogue References 10 - Influenza virus: an evolving chameleon Introduction The history of influenza The Spanish ‘flu and the search for its cause Influenza pandemics in the modern era The H/N “Pandora's box” and vaccine advances References 11 - The Polio virus: its conquest amid inflamed debate and controversy The history of polio virus infection The Scandinavian experience The poliomyelitis virus discovered The pathogenesis of poliomyelitis defined The race to a vaccine Polio vaccine trials: triumph and alarm bells Live attenuated virus vaccines: the “catch up” race Vaccine safety concerns and their resolution The race to eliminate the polio virus Poliomyelitis today References 12 - Measles, mumps, and rubella: vaccination, mortality, and uncertainty Measles virus and its history A measles vaccine emerges The effect of vaccines on measles incidence Mumps virus and its history Attenuated viruses become the dominant mumps vaccine Rubella virus: a wolf in sheep's clothing Isolation of rubella virus and the vaccine trail The combination vaccines of measles, mumps, rubella References 13 - Filoviruses: modern solutions to life-threatening infections Introduction and recent history The origins of filoviruses Prevention the only option when no cure exists The vaccine paths The vaccine situation today and the role of passive immunotherapy Conclusions References 14 - Immunological challenges of the “new” infections: corona viruses History of coronaviruses A new viral pathogen arrives The SARS disease: its origins and its causative agent The way out: vaccines to SARS-CoV Nonsemper erit aestas—MERS attack The stuttering path to a MERS-CoV vaccine SARS-CoV2—the darker side of coronaviridae The origin of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic models and the vaccine solutions for COVID19 COVID19 and the role of passive antibody therapy Interim epilogue: vaccine nationalism and effective use of global resources References 15 - Vaccines are not always perfect: adverse effects and their clinical impact Vaccine safety evaluation The other “substances” in vaccines! COVID19 vaccines and safety References 16 - Vaccination and freedom of choice: the individual and the population Religious and ethical grounds for vaccine hesitancy The safety question: hesitancy amid misinformation The genuine concerns of vaccination References Glossary Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Back Cover A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity covers the developments of vaccines and how they have obliterated many fatal diseases and infections over time. The book treads a neutral path but does not avoid discussion. As uncertainty in the outcome of vaccination can only be determined by experiment, the path to vaccine development has been scientifically complex because the immune system and the manner in which humans respond to infection is variable and complex. Finally, the book describes the risks and benefits of vaccines in a visibly objective manner. 2023 PROSE Awards - Winner: Finalist: History of Science, Medicine, and Technology: Association of American Publishers Gives an objective description of the science behind vaccine discovery Presents awareness and discussions on controversies, both past and present Provides historical context to the scientific aspects of immunization, including what worked, what didn't, and why Written by a scientist with no ‘vested interest'in vaccine development Clears up many misunderstandings for today's vaccination policies "While there are many short articles on the history of vaccines and a number of miltiauthor scientific books, there are few single works that probe the historical debates, the scientific, political, and cultural milieu that influenced the acceptance of immunological intervention in infectious diseases. A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity treads a neutral path but does not avoid discussion. The uncertainty in the outcome of vaccination can only be determined by experiment. The path to vaccine development was scientifically complex because the immune system and the manner in which humans respond to infection are variable and also complex. The development of vaccines has obliterated many fatal infectious diseases and will continue to do so. A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity also describes the risks and benefits in a visibly objective manner. This has not always been so, but is a sine qua non for global acceptance of each new vaccine as it is developed."--Back cover "A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity covers the developments of vaccines and how they have obliterated many fatal diseases and infections over time. The book treads a neutral path but does not avoid discussion. As uncertainty in the outcome of vaccination can only be determined by experiment, the path to vaccine development has been scientifically complex because the immune system and the manner in which humans respond to infection is variable and complex. Finally, the book describes the risks and benefits of vaccines in a visibly objective manner." -- ffrom the publisher's website