Mumps

There are two potential benefits to vaccine. One is preventive. You get the vaccine, you don’t worry about exposure to the disease. You don’t have to lie awake at night, fearing your children have been exposed to smallpox. As far as traditional and proven, vaccines are one of the oldest tools of modern medicine. In 1796 Dr. Edward Jenner published his research on smallpox prevention. Noting the common observation that milkmaids did not generally get smallpox, Jenner theorized that the pus in the blisters which milkmaids received from cowpox (a disease similar to smallpox, but much less virulent) protected the milkmaids from smallpox. He ... Read Full Story

As the quest for newer and better medicines continues, and with the long drawn process of pharmaceutical drug development playing the speed bump, patients around the world hope for a miracle cure for many diseases. Amidst the mayhem have we overlooked the real worth of vaccines in mitigating diseases. Impact of the vaccine revolution The practice modern vaccination dates back to about 200 years, when in  1798 the first vaccine for smallpox and the first vaccine for any disease was publicized by Edward Jenner in England. Since then vaccines have proved  to be among the most effective measures in terms of cost and in ... Read Full Story

HONG KONG, March 11 (Reuters) - A smallpox vaccine appears to be effective in a trial in Japan, with none of the serious side effects that are linked to earlier tests, researchers said. Although smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1979, scientists in countries such as Japan and the United States are still trying to develop vaccines in case the virus is ever used in a biological attack. "Developing a vaccine that is safer than first-generation vaccines yet highly immunogenic is crucial to constructing a prevention plan in the event of a bioterrorist attack," wrote the authors of the study, which was published in the ... Read Full Story

Definition: A live VACCINIA VIRUS vaccine of calf lymph or chick embryo origin, used for immunization against smallpox. It is now recommended only for laboratory workers exposed to smallpox virus. Certain countries continue to vaccinate those in the military service. Complications that result from smallpox vaccination include vaccinia, secondary bacterial infections, and encephalomyelitis. (Dorland, 28th ed) The Smallpox Vaccine The smallpox vaccine helps the body develop immunity to smallpox. The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia which is a “pox”-type virus related to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine contains the “live” vaccinia virus—not dead virus like many other vaccines. For that reason, the ... Read Full Story

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kids Nutrition Specialist Now that we may have put one big debate behind us, that of toy safety, the vaccine quandary is back in full effect. Whether or not to have a child vaccinated, despite the current debate, is often a taboo subject to discuss. Rumors swirling around schoolyards and websites dedicated to making parents dubious of vaccines leave parents confused. It appears even the smallest inkling of doubt, despite the lack of significant scientific evidence to prove vaccines are harmful, is enough for parents to opt out of vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say ... Read Full Story